Happy 25th

My daughter Frances is licensed to use scissors. I gave birth to a Hairstylist.

She did the apprenticeship and passed the exam so I thought I would pay a visit to the small town where she styles young and old alike. It's the shop at "the stoplight". Yes there is only one in "Hair-O". (Locals will get that joke.)
I brought lunch from the city: a chicken shwarma sandwich which she dramatically held high before devouring. I didn't hold the garlic and wondered how the clients would react later in the day. Oh well. I brought her a Starbucks too. I know the way to her heart.



It's a sunny shop, clean as a whistle with those wooden creaky floors I remember from stores as a child; the charm of a small town salon.



She's as sharp as her scissors in seeing to the clients needs, noticing immediately when "Sally" was crossing the street with her walker and running out to meet her or making time for the senior on a bike who was doing errands "in town" for his ailing wife. "A trim will take no time at all" and she fit him in between my shampoo and style.
I loved seeing her in action, using the tools of her trade. Some know and love her for her scalp massage technique.
Some are taken with her up do's and flair for colour. I personally love her cuts. She gets it just right.

As I post this on her 25th birthday, I can reminisce about the girls lined up in my living room to get their hair done for semi formal. Or the Barbies who got their shampoos done in the bathtub. It is her art.

She tells me about life and work in a small agricultural town: how busy they are when there's a wedding or graduation that everyone is attending, the joy of getting fresh free range organic eggs with massive yolks, the gifts of greenhouse flowers.
It's a bit of a commute but she's going the opposite way to traffic since most are coming into the city. She's seeing more people that have stopped getting their hair done here in the city and are looking local for service. Business is growing.

I can't help but think they see her "city style" and decide to become loyal clients. Usually it's the mom who starts and before long the whole family is coming.
I enjoy the stories like the teen who came by and said "Did you do so and so's hair?" Bam. New client. Or the ones who know what days she is there and drop in without an appointment.

She realized her income went up when she started just saying "Yes". Yes, I'll fit you in, yes, I'll stay late for you, yes, I'll give you the cut, colour, style you want.
It's not just the talent, it's the business too. The learning continues.

Happy 25th Birthday Frances!! And thanks for the last cut. I love it. And I love you.