The Nightmare is Real

Startled, I sat up in bed, tears in my eyes. I sat there frozen in that state between sleep and wakefulness when you try to figure out what is real and what is a dream. It felt very real to me at that moment. What seemed like an eternity later, I decided I had been dreaming.

I started going to my hairdresser in 1973 when we first moved to North Carolina. At this point, I had been seeing her for twenty-plus years. In that time period, she had taken care of my hair, the needs of both of my daughter’s and my first granddaughter had just started seeing her. We knew her well and trusted her explicitly with our hair care needs. Over the years we followed Sallie* from shop to shop. When she moved, we moved with her.

And then came the dream. I was frantically looking for Sallie. No one would tell me where she was or what had happened to her. I ran from shop to shop, all the places she had worked before, only to find my questions met with weird looks and snooty attitudes. It was like she had fallen off the face of the earth and no one but me cared.

Now, nineteen years later, the nightmare is real. Sallie has disappeared. Four months ago, I received a card inviting me to her Bridal Shower. She had been dating a man from Michigan for a few years so I wasn’t all that surprised by the announcement. When she married before, she stayed in the area running her business. There was a strange phrase on the invitation saying something about giving Sallie money and gift cards because she was traveling light to Hawaii. I assumed she was honeymooning there.

A few weeks later I called to make an appointment for a haircut and her shop phone had been disconnected. A week or so later, I decided I’d call her private number. Again, it was no longer in service. Maybe she’s still in Hawaii, or maybe she moved to Michigan. Oh boy, I am living the nightmare?

I know it seems like a silly thing to get all bent out of shape over. Change is hard. I finally made an appointment with a new hairdresser. She gave me a great cut and all was well until she charged me thirty dollars. It was partly my fault for not asking what she charged. Mark number one off the list. I’ve tried one more lady since then and may give her a second shot. I’m way overdue for a cut but I have been putting it off. It just doesn’t feel right sitting in someone else’s chair.

Have you had a drastic change in your life? How did you handle it? I draw great comfort in the fact that in a world of change, God never changes. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. And that brings me joy and peace.

May your journey be joyful-

Cathy


Update 08/08/12 - I have heard through a third party that Sallie is alive and well, happily married and living in Hawaii.