"Be the change you wish to see in the world."Ghandi.
I loved my last job, absolutely loved it, I was good at it. It made me happy. Not many people can say that before they turn 21. I was a hairstylist. Do not stereotype me. The typical stereotype of a "hairdresser" makes me gag, ugh. What I did, as my career was took art and made shapes, bonded with people and I was a professional. I saw hundreds of new people all the time, each of those people putting their trust into my hands.
Trust? One might think the art of hairstyling seems a little silly, its just hair. Ha- I would like to meet that person who believes its just hair, and shave their head, or see the women that feels so much better after just one fantastic blow dry and pampered. The salon I worked at clients were guests. I came to truly appreciate the wording and comfort that the word guest gave. A sense of self indulgence and appreciation. One bonus with my career was the fact that no one person is the same. Seeing each guest just for a 45 minute hair cut created a bond, that I cannot even explain in words. Each person, no matter how normal, bland, outrageous, or strange they were appealed to me, because I was contributing something to them that they did not have already.
Ann Arbor, voted the most liberal town in the state of Michigan definitely served me up with the widest variety of personalities. I would go home at night smiling, sometimes baffled by the new things I have learned, there are a few stories that shine the brightest in my memory, personalities that cannot go without being recognized.
Lets start somewhere in the middle-
- Frank: well, where to start with Frank. He was an older man, he drove up with his wife every weekend or so, to enjoy Ann Arbor- I ended up getting Frank's appointment by fluke I randomly had a cancellation and the time slot was just long enough to fit in a beard trim. Beard trims- not so much of a popular service item at an upper end salon. Yet I sucked it up and figured this would be a breeze. Well, was I wrong. Asking me if I knew what 4/16th's of an inch was and requesting I cut that off of his beard was surprising to me- I never quite expected such an odd request. I began to sweat, knowing this was not going to be quite the stroll in the park beard bash. I did my best, it turned out as well as any beard trim would, he remained cold with me and left. A week later I see Frank on my books again and this continues sometimes bi-weekly sometimes at random, however always on a Saturday and always on a very busy day. His wife, who would stand outside the window and watch as I trimmed his beard, one day was waiting for me when Frank's name was the one listed for the appointment. I approached her and she said she needed a haircut- the appointment was actually for her. The entire haircut she praised my talent, saying I was gloriously talented- by the way: all she asked me to do was trim an 1/8 of an inch off, and cut her hair around her headband which she kept in. One of the final times I saw Frank he and his wife extended an invitation. An invitation to join their interpretive dance team. ----enough said.
- Squirrely Gyno: perhaps this title speaks for itself. The first subject we began to talk about-pets. He had a sugar glider. With many pictures on his phone to show and some research on my part later on- sugar glider=flying squirrel. Sugar gliders are very interactive, the animal can become depressed if left alone and unsocialized, so while i was cutting his hair he went on to tell me that he carried a leather pouch around his neck, where his sugar glider lived. He would go to bars, parties, shopping with little sugar glider safe around his neck, when a sugar glider wants attention it will bark- he compared it to the sound of a small dog. Containing myself I changed subjects- what is your occupation we began: his response, "a gynocologist." random thoughts, does he take the sugar glider to work? A gyno with a partner squirrel? awkward pap smear....
- Sivana: Now Sivana is someone, who made my day- The first day we met I was having an awful day- a licey child, anxiety attacks and tears were pre-sivana, she did not have my full attention and she needed it. She was a middle aged woman, very tall, glasses, wirey frame. I remember approaching her and being intimidated because I did not know what to expect. Into conversation she began to cry- had been asking her about pets. Her companon cat just died after a struggle with cancer. There I felt heartless, I just made a woman cry about her cancerous cat, another tic on my bad-day-o-meter. Conversation went on and I told her about my dog's health problems, this was when I realized what kind of person she was. The next appointment she made for me she met me with a smile- we were both in better spirits, she pulled out a giant packet of vet clinics, Q &As and a card for me. She was here for an appointment to get her hair washed and styled for a funeral. Every one in her family and her significant other's family was dying, I truly felt for this woman- after I quit Sivana was one of my guests who I truly felt sorry for not saying goodbye to- I never got a chance to see her before my last day- She took a little getting used to, working around the rough edges and all, but this day I really do hope that things are looking up for her-
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