"Welcome to my blog space. I believe that God has carefully placed gems in our paths to fill our days with joy. The challenge for us is to take the time to notice them. My desire is to share the gems in my life so that, hopefully, you will see the ones He's placed in yours. I hope what you read here will be worth your time and you'll want to return often." - Cathy

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

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.

6 comments:

  1. Ugh, I hate changing hairdressers. I have to say that's probably at the top of the list!

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    1. It's in the same category as changing doctors for me. You move from the familiar, comfy relationship to the awkward unknown where you have to start from square one and try to explain everything that's happened in your life. Thanks for commenting, Laura.

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  2. Cathy,
    I sometimes have dreams that become a living reality also. I hope your hairstylist friend is doing O.K. I'm sure like you all her clients were shocked with her sudden closing of her shop.
    I can relate to having a hard time finding a good stylist. Maybe its because I was owner/manager of my own little home beauty shop for seven years. I also had to close my shop, not because I was getting married, but because of ill health. When I shared with my clients I would be closing within two weeks, I had some ladies actually cry...hard to believe. In the meantime, I continue to look for the right stylist...thinking this one is the best...yet within a day I am finding uneven places all over my head! What to do? Sometimes I just get the scissors out and cut it myself...and pray no one will see the uneven spots. (: (: Thanks for sharing Cathy.

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    1. Thanks for commiserating with me, Glenda! I'm still searching too. I am bad to cut my own hair at times too. If I get up and my hair won't lay like I want it, I get the scissors and start whacking on it. I do pretty good on the front and sides, but the back is another story. Blessings on you and your search.

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  3. Does this kind of stress not warrant a trip to Hawaii in pursuit of a good hair cut from Sallie? Hee, hee. Let me know how that works out for you Cathy.
    At least our God is a constant source of joy! I enjoyed our coffee break today!

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  4. I hadn't thought about doing that! You are such a blessing to me. Coffee was wonderful.

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