I live in a small town within a larger community that is nowhere near as big as where I grew up. My graduating class was 636 kids and that was just our high school - the rival high school probably had an equal number of kids. The typical class size here is 200.

This week, in less than five days, two young people have died from heroin overdoses. 

I knew of the kids; I didn't personally know them.

People like to think, "Not my kid."

Oh yes.

YOUR kid. MY kid. OUR kids.

The following piece is very powerful. It is well worth the 8 minutes.

The Last Time We Spoke.
http://youtu.be/lqvrRwgO-7o

Everyone I know lives in a community that rallies together in times of great tragedy.

Here's what I want.

I want the community to rally together BEFORE the tragedy. I want people to take a stand and say, "No more." 

Our community has a D.A.R.E. program. I was recently told that some of the kids wear their D.A.R.E. shirts when they go to parties. They enjoy the irony of it. Really? Well, I guess yes, because let's face it, we were all teenagers and young adults once and weren't we too, ironic and invisible?

I honestly have no idea how drug addiction starts.

Hell, I can't figure out my own addiction to food and I've got years of therapy under my belt.

How is it that the baby you rocked gets addicted; you know, the same kid who probably had to be held down to take children's Motrin.

• I know there will be people who will say it starts with drinking.
  
• I know there will be people who say it starts with smoking pot.
  
• I know there will be people who say it starts with poor self esteem.
  
• I know there will be people who say it starts with peer pressure.
  
• I know there will be people who say it starts because it's fun.
  
• I know there will be people who say you can prevent it by talking about it it at home.

What happens when you HAVE talked about it and it still occurs?

In our community we have an amazing woman named Clare. Clare is the "Lunch Lady" - her term, not mine. She knows every single kid who goes through the schools. She is helping to lead the charge to have people speak out about this god awful drug. She has support from a number of other people who all want the same result. A dialog. No more whispering. SHOUTING about it. Rallying before the next kid dies.

As I read through the many Facebook posts about this in the past 12 hours it humbles me to read the stories from the parents who have lived through this with their kids. People who have great parenting skills have kids who get addicted to drugs. Great kids get addicted to drugs.

There can be no blame. The pain is far too great to cast a stone.

I think I am most horrified by the fact that there are adults with kids selling this shit to our kids.

When I was a teenager, WAY back in the 1970's, I read Go Ask Alice. The book remains in print. In the past few years I read both, Beautiful Boy and Tweak: Growing Up on Methamphetamines. A point and counter point version of the same issue from a fathers point of view and his sons response to the father's book. If you haven't read them, I suggest them - not easy reads.

One of the first songs I ever learned to play on the guitar was this Neil Young song.

I love the song. I hate the song.

I caught you knockin'
At my cellar door
I love you, baby,
Can I have some more
Ooh, ooh, the damage done.

http://youtu.be/c-WUo4sFGgA

Yesterday, I wrote about being nice. My friend, Kelley commented:

The truth behind that is fantastic. And so simple.

You NEVER know who you are healing, even if for an instant, with a smile.

Check out the Facebook picture of the day by clicking HERE. Another friend, Lourdes, had it pinned on Pinterest last night and I thought, hmmm, this is all showing up at the same time for a reason.

Here's to a day of terrific energy and lots of smiles.

xo

Silence Speaks ~ when you give a piece of your heart, when you smile at a stranger, when you do nice things, oh indeed, silence speaks.

Gorgeous instrumental.

http://youtu.be/1HGsD0mSXPU

My friend Laura put this on her Facebook page the other day, and I asked her if I could use it.

This is basically my motto in life. I always hold doors. I say please and thank you. ALTHOUGH, I will admit, it drives Bella totally insane when I say something like, "Bella, can you get the milk out of the fridge?" ::: pause ::: "Please?!" So naturally, because I am her mother and it is my god given right to drive her crazy, I now do this on purpose. (It's good to have a goal...)

There is no rhyme or reason on who is rude or not, or who uses their manners. I am going to stick with the theory that our kids learned everything the needed to know WAY before kindergarten - especially in light of day care and Pre-K.

Our behavior reinforces everything we teach them. Which, for me, means my kids will hold the door, use their manners, and have road rage.

My friend Jeanne - you all know her now that she's famous for her awesome quote on yesterday's Facebook page - has a terrific company based here in NY called Etiquette Advantage. She teaches people of ALL ages the somewhat lost art of manners, as only Jeanne can. 

For instance, she recently worked with a group of high school students at a she-she-froo-froo restaurant on their table manners. She helps teens with the fine art of looking someone in the eyes and shaking hands, which is especially important as they start the college interview process.

Because these instructions are coming from someone who is extremely fun and delightful, the kids hear what she is saying as opposed to the blah-blah-blah when we say exactly the same thing.

To continue Laura's thoughts, what can YOU do to make someone's day brighter today?

Here's an easy start, you can "LIKE" Etiquette Advantage's Facebook page by clicking HERE!

Me? I will answer the phone with a smile among other things.

I thank you all, from the bottom of my heart, for reading and responding and sharing (ooohh - that's something nice you can do!) and liking and all that jazz. 

Have a NICE day!

xo

I know I saw this video when it was first going around last year. It goes brilliantly with today's post - it is one of those videos where the video is as good as the music.

if you give a little love,
you can get a little love of your own

http://youtu.be/PT-HBl2TVtI

Did you ever have a moment when suddenly, something you didn't even realize was bothering you, jumps up and slaps you in the back of the head?

If so, read along.

If not, well, fine. Be that way. Keep reading though...

That happened to me on Sunday as I was driving to meet some friends for brunch. I literally gasped in my car, naturally I started to tear up, and then I figured I could contemplate it all later.

While speaking to Jeannie about it yesterday, she gave me my FB tidbit today.

The paper is just sitting there minding it's own business and then BAM, you get a teensy slice that really hurts. It is quick and efficient.

Pain can be like that.

For whatever the reason, a number of my friends are also experiencing pain at a visceral level. Small little hurts. Things none of us were even thinking about are coming in like tidal waves and ripping little pieces of us up.

I wish YOU less pain if it's happening to you too.

As for me, now that I am aware of it, I can hopefully put it in a box, and seal it shut.

xo

Six months ago I used the R.E.M. version of this song. I was looking for something new to use today and THIS version popped up on my YouTube search. It is tissue worthy. And it is certainly worthy of making an encore appearance here.

Everybody hurts. 
Take comfort in your friends.
Everybody hurts. 

http://youtu.be/xrPFdEiPcLU

For about 10 years, I kept women in my life at bay. I didn't have a lot of close girlfriends and I certainly didn't have women who I considered my support system. When your heart gets broken by a best friend it is hard to trust again; but, I am so grateful to say I am now surrounded ALL THE TIME by a cavalry of women who I love and who I trust implicitly.

My Monday's tend to be my Sunday's. They are laid back, not too heavily scheduled AND I get to see many of the people who matter to me because their kids are back in school, or their work day ends early, or whatever.

Today was no different.

I spent quality time with two amazing women who I count myself lucky to know. One is newer friend, Kathy, a fellow Long Island girl, we've got that connection going on. The other is an older friend, Jeannie. Our friendship has gotten deeper and more meaningful with each passing month.

I realized after you both left: Kathy, you were sitting in the rocking chair Jeannie gifted to the MB. Jeannie, you were sitting on the hope chest Kathy gifted to the MB. Kindred spirits? Indeed.

EACH of these women, along with more women than I can count on my fingers and toes, epitomize the quote above. It takes time to cultivate a true friend and I have spent a lot of time in my friendship garden.

Throughout the years I have had brief friendships, and then there's the women from grade school who I still count among the dearest friends I have.

You ALL know my friend Amy. She had a "friend" who left her high and dry last year because she felt Amy wasn't putting enough into a business in which the other woman was her upline. (That's multilevel sales lingo for a person who recruits you.)

Apparently the woman forgot Amy was actively trying to stay alive

If you know me in real life, and if you've been here long enough, you KNOW I was less than polite when I heard about that.

In an effort to help Amy make a little money, if you are so inclined, and if you love Tastefully Simple products, I invite you to go directly to her page and order to your hearts content. Get your favorite spices, beer bread, etc. Note to Nancy - Merlot Sauce is being discontinued!

And so, to Kathy and Jeannie, (and all the other amazing women in my life) I say, I love you. Thank you for hanging out in the Magic Basement this morning, or any other time we've been here.

My world is brighter thanks to the love of friends.

xo

Find out what we're made of
When we are called to help our friends in need

You can count on me like 1 2 3
I'll be there
And I know when I need it I can count on you like 4 3 2
And you'll be there
Cause that's what friends are supposed to do, oh yeah

http://youtu.be/yJYXItns2ik

I live with people who make me laugh.
Christmas Day 2013

I am related to people who make me laugh.
December 29, 2013 at Jane's house

I work with people who make me laugh.
Taken at Marisa's Sweet Sixteen last night.

I love this statistic!

I am surrounded by people who make me laugh all the time.

Frankly, I crack myself up. 

I wish you a day of laughing until your tears run down your leg with the occasional snort thrown in just for kicks.

It's Saturday.

It might just snow again.

The parking lot could end up as an Olympic event. 

We'll muscle through and prepare for our weekend.

YOU enjoy your day!

My kids showed me this last year. I literally cried. It still slays me.

I can no longer listen to Taylor Swift's song "Trouble" without hearing a screaming goat.

Have fun!

http://youtu.be/Nf4SyWq692s

I came into the salon Wednesday to a new music station coming through the speakers. It it an eclectic mix of pop, rock, rap, disco, R&B - it's called Y2K on Optimum - I had to look it up to see just what on earth we were listening to.

Yesterday, the original version of this song came on. For the record, it was released in 1975 and oh boy, it was racy! I can remember the giggling when we figured out what the French lyrics meant. I think everyone who was in the salon was bobbing their heads, well except for the people getting cut - that would be bad.

The Friday song picked itself.

Tonight, the entire salon will be dancing as we celebrate Leslie's daughter, Marisa's, Sweet 16. We're shutting down early (!) and putting on our dancing shoes. 

I expect Bella to be embarrassed by me most of the night.

Now, get up to sing and dance for the next 4 minutes!

xo

Gitchi gitchi ya ya da da
Gitchi gitchi ya ya here
Mocha chocolata, ya ya
Creole Lady Marmalade

Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir?
Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?

The Original
http://youtu.be/t4LWIP7SAjY

From the movie Moulin Rouge
http://youtu.be/RQa7SvVCdZk

Yesterday's blog piece garnered various reactions:

• OH Yeah (!) you're coming back to the gym
  
• WRITE your book
  
• KEEP blogging
  
• THANKS for blogging

When I wrote it, I was really thinking about how I needed to self start myself, again, into eating better, moving, getting back to yoga, and yes, Jen, getting back to the gym. (For the record it said SHOES, not sneakers!)

I am like a push me-pull me toy. I get it together and then I fall apart. I can usually figure out what's going on that causes me to derail, and this past year is no exception - although to tell you the truth, the crux of it didn't show up in my head until after I wrote this yesterday morning.

I should probably schedule an "emergency" appointment with my therapist to really nail this nonsense down. ::: sigh ::: 

Life. It's really all that, isn't it?

As the quote above states, all the great work begins inside. Baby steps are needed no matter how old and wise you think you are.

Here's to breaking free. We all need to kick start ourselves in some way, shape, or form more often than I suspect we admit.

We owe it to ourselves to find a way to do the work, yes, it's work, from the inside out.

xo

You see, it's all clear
You were meant to be here
From the beginning

http://youtu.be/GWqD7GyJBVM

This year, I am vowing to spend more than a just a little time outside of my comfort zone. 

For example, writing is something I have done on and off for years.

Then, two years ago, someone called me out about a blog I thought I was going to start writing. I never did. I had a million excuses why I didn't write it.

Was I ready to bare my soul? No. Was I ready to commit to the practice of writing nearly every day? No. Was I ready for criticism? No. Perspective shows me it was fear. 

In my teens, I shared my writing. There are a few journals filled with the angst of being young, confused, in love, out of love, in love, out of love, in love. Along with responses from my friends TO the writing.

And then the journals stop.

My best guess on the sudden stop is that I was really in love for the first time in my life. I poured every blessed emotion out to him in letters and notes and cards and small pieces of paper that said, "I love you" which I would leave on the windshield of his truck. 

There was, of course, a break up.

I continued to write, just not in journals. Again, perspective shows me I wasn't ready to be honest with myself; journal writing forces you to confront the chaos in your head. (At least that's how I feel now.)

I was a great writer of notes and letters. No one loved a Hallmark store more than me. In turn, I was equally a receiver of many notes and letters.

A couple of years ago I went through a bunch of them. So many memories. I had forgotten just how many I saved. I placed them all back in their respective file folders through smiles and tears, not quite ready to really read them again and not quite ready to throw them out.

And then I decided, a little over a year ago, to take a leap of faith. 

This blog - oh this was out of my comfort zone for sure.

A few times I have gone back and read the earlier posts and I can see how my writing has changed over the course of the year.

I am more willing to be honest. I am more willing to put my feelings out there in cyber space. I am more willing to let my fingers fly across the keyboard and say what they need to.

It has been a great lesson in going outside of my comfort zone. I still edit. I still decide if what I want to say is too much. I delete things all the time. I protect other peoples' feelings at all costs. I protect my own heart when I need to.

So this year, I am looking to create more magic. It will require going out of my comfort zone, that safe place here in my basement where I hide out. I know, from all my past life experiences, that the first step really IS the hardest. I can't even say for sure that my big toe is poised for that step. I just know I have to go for it.

Will YOU join me?

I'll let you know when I put on my shoes.

xo

This flame that burns inside of me,
I'm hearing secret harmonies
It's a kind of magic,
The bell that rings inside your mind,
Is challenging the doors of time

http://youtu.be/YWf5BLUOhNM

We are hunkering down for another round of snow; the total accumulation changes by the day.

Spring will have an amazing valedictorian.

Stay warm. Stay safe. Grab a good book. Cuddle up under a cozy blanket. Netflix, Hulu, On Demand - chose your entertainment vehicle. Hand write a note. Cook something delicious. Clean out a closet. OK, scratch that.

Every time I hear this song on Pandora I want to thumbs up something I have already thumbed up. I heard it in a movie last night. It seemed like the perfect song for the weather forecast, what with the title and all.

xo

The walk has all been cleared by now 
Your voice is all I hear somehow 
Calling out winter 

http://youtu.be/cHlf08yTPiU

If you have been reading here for any amount of time, you know I am firmly in the corner of love.

SO MANY PEOPLE ARE!

Love asks us to be brave and to set aside our fears and go out on a limb of kindness.

I am all in.

Make it a day of love.

xo 

I Just Can't Stop Loving You
I Just Can't Stop Loving You
And If I Stop . . .
Then Tell Me Just What
Will I Do

http://youtu.be/eDOGKgaHeeA

We have a fabulous local market, Cole's Market, I love to shop in. It is family owned and run for over 100 years. Everyone who works there is always welcoming and kind. It is my go to place for wonderful meat, seafood, produce, quiche, cold cuts, etc.

This morning I was shopping for beef for beef stew, milk, veggies for the stew, and assorted other items.

There was a man being serviced at the butcher counter as well. I would use the term gentleman but that would be inaccurate.

He wanted his chicken breasts a certain way. The butcher was telling him something and the guy WENT OFF. Cursing. Throwing around sentences like, "Do you know how long I have been coming here? Over 30 years. I knew the father. I know the owners. I spend over a thousand dollars a month here," and so on and so on and so on.

He was asking for the manager. He was asking for the owners. He announced he would just go upstairs and talk to the owner himself. (He did not)

I sat there thinking to myself, "YOU, sir, are an ass."

One of the employees called down the owner; by then the guy had at least stopped speaking.

All I cold think of was, the customer is NOT always right.

Congratulations to the staff for remaining professional. I wanted to slap him.

Be nice, sir.

It will serve you far better than your superiority over the person serving you.

Sayin' yeah, and you want her
But she's so mean
(You'll never let her go, why don't you let her go?)
Yeah, and you want her
But she's so mean

http://youtu.be/-8WLa6umgdw

Every once in a while you just HAVE to have fun. When I saw this image it really just made me giggle.

It's Saturday, and I am winding down for my weekend. I hope yours is fabulous.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my first born niece, Caitlan. I remember the day like it was yesterday, even though it was 24 years ago. The entire office cheered when they heard you were born. I am delighted you are able to spend some time with your family this weekend and I wish for you, as I always have, since the second I knew you were coming, tremendous joy in your life, much laughter, moments of reflection that are really life altering, and of course, all the LOVE your heart can handle. I hope you mama makes you one of her awesome cakes and that you get an extra iced end piece! (OK, that's what I want her to do for me, I don't actually know what your favorite piece is.) May your day be filled with HAPPY wishes, many messages on FB, and smiles galore! 

Go forth and set the world on fire - it's your oyster and I KNOW you can do whatever it is you set your mind to and you will do it brilliantly!

I love you darling girl! xo

Tonight, 
We are young
So let's set the world on fire
We can burn brighter
Than the sun

http://youtu.be/Sv6dMFF_yts

This is a follow up to my mistakes post from June - 7 months to the day that I wrote it.

I would love to be able to say I haven't made any more mistakes at the salon, BUT, that would be a bold faced lie. So, I think it's time to come clean and confess just how wacky my mistakes have been and to remind myself that this "being human" stuff isn't always easy.

In no particular order:
Wednesday (this is still SO fresh in my mind), early on in the day, a client needed change of a $100 bill; this is no easy task at the beginning of the day. However, I happened to have two $50's in my wallet. I changed that up for her. She put one away and left one out for me so I could break that down even further. Which I did. Then, I gave her back the original $50.

Yes indeed, I paid HER to get her hair cut because that's just how I roll.

Naturally, I realized this when I cashed out my drawer. ::: sigh :::

Thankfully, when I called this particular client  to ask her if she could please double check, she let me know that yes, in fact, she did have two $50's in her wallet and she would pay me when she came back to the salon in two weeks. 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wednesday, (are you noting a pattern here?) Marlene noticed that one of her clients was listed as (1) but nowhere in the book was there a (2).

What's that mean you wonder?

Well, when someone sees Marlene and then a stylist, we make a note of it so Marlene knows there's a time limit and that her client needs to make their way to someone else next. 

SO...I called that client and left a message asking them if they were in fact coming in and stating that I only showed them seeing Marlene.

She called me back Thursday morning.

OH YES INDEED (!) she was coming in and by the way, she was also getting her hair colored and cut. Hmmm.... but where, OH where did that appointment go? Because I can assure you it was NOT in the book.

Colleen, always up for a challenge, despite basically being triple booked, made it work and the client left delighted.

We also quadruple checked I had written everything in the book for her next appointment before she left.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Phone numbers.

::: shaking my head :::

I put the first three digits of one client and the last four of another and make up an entirely new number. That's always great when I try to confirm an appointment.

OR, when I dial the number of the client above or below and get them on the phone instead of who I think I am calling.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Charging for services: OK, this is just ugly. Poor Marlene ends up with the short end of the stick more often that not on this. I will charge someone for their hair and then not charge them for their waxing.

This is a problem, people. If your bill seems too low, do me a favor, and let me know, because apparently, I have issues.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Being a Hair Traffic Controller is a hard job. It's like being a cruise director as well - you want people at the right station at the right time and you want them happy. At all times.

Seriously though, I am fortunate I am working with understanding and wonderful people who make MY job better because they get that mistakes happen.

It really doesn't matter how old you are, or how experienced you are, or where you work...I am here to tell you, mistakes are a part of everyday life.

We all make them.

Some of us make doozies, and some of us make little ones.

As for me, well, it's Friday, and that means, we dance...in this case to a fun tune called, "One Perfect Day."

Lordy Lou, a girl can hope - for the perfect day, that is.

xo

PLEASE - do share some of your mistakes, I'd like to feel a little less alone.

One Perfect Day, I will see you face
One Perfect Day we'll forget the pain 
One Perfect Day, it will be okay 
One Perfect Day
We'll put it behind us

http://youtu.be/_KKgBd1tLnI

Happy First Full Moon of the New Year.

If this too fills you with hope, promise and joy, well then, welcome to my world.

Have a happy Thursday, enjoy dancing in the moonlight.

xo

Dancing in the moonlight
Everybody's feeling warm and bright
It's such a fine and natural sight
Everybody's dancing in the moonlight

http://youtu.be/hMc8naeeSS8

As the mother of teens (and a house where teens gather) one of my favorite lines to say to them as they head out the door is, "Don't do anything stupid with life long consequences."

Teens don't have the brain capacity to imagine much more than the immediate future. Frankly, they are living in the moment - something most of us forget how to do by the time we are 30.

And so, just like when they were toddlers, we need to remind them, EVERY single time they go out, to be careful, pay attention, watch what you put on social media (I could write an entire book on tweets...), don't get in a car with someone who has been drinking (yes, of course I know the drinking age is 21 - I also know I was a teen with fake ID and if you think it's changed in 35 years I urge you to come out into the light), to call us, no matter what, no matter where, if you are in a situation that makes you uncomfortable.

As an adult, we sometimes forget those same lessons we are working so hard to impart on our kids.

Are we over-thinking things? Are we over-analyzing to a faretheewell about stuff that we should just let roll off our backs? I can put my hand in the air and say, "Yep."

Each day is an adventure in staying in the present. Each day I get another chance to get it right. Sometimes I am victorious and some days I am very glad for tomorrow.

Life happens.

Let's not think too hard about it.

xo

You need me (need me) and I need you (don't you know) 
Without each other there ain't nothing people can do, yeah, yeah 
Think about me (what your trying to do to me) till the fall of night
Think about it baby

http://youtu.be/hsL9UL9qbv8

Love may be one of THE hardest words to define; it is so utterly personal.

I listen to teen girls; they love everyone. If I was to get out my journals from my teens years ::: shudder ::: I loved everyone as well, so it hasn't changed too much - they just say it all the time. It is a conversation sign off with sentiment, "love you!" rather than "buh-bye!"

In the 1970's our conversations didn't end with "love you." I can certainly recognize how much I loved my girlfriends, many of whom I am still in touch with. Having gone through the trenches of life with them over the course of the past 40 years, I love them even more now. Your story doesn't have to be retold - they lived it WITH you - via letters, email, phone calls, and certainly catching up on Facebook.

Romantic love is an entirely different kind of love. I know I was totally shaped in my teens and early twenties about how I expected/wanted/hoped/wished love to be. I wrote about it nearly a year ago HERE. Ah youth.

All I know for certain is you can't have too much love. It really is a cure for what ails you. Here's to love and it's many, many definitions. May someone smile though the phone for you today.

Remember I wrote about listening to a song on repeat last week? This is one I could listen to all day.

xo

It's in the stars
In the sun
It's everywhere
In everyone
And it will be every day

http://youtu.be/_OwUIIeuw8w

For my mother - the new 'do and color. 
The resemblance to Janie is uncanny.

Even though it's not over yet, today was a darn near perfect day.

It was warm enough for the kids to walk to school.

I had coffee with three of my dearest friends before 8:30 this morning. We hashed out world peace and other items of interest. I was gifted a glorious painting from my friend Mel. She painted it five years ago when she was pregnant with her son. I think the depiction of the woman looking out the glass towards her future is awesome.

If you're in the area on Monday mornings, you never know who will gather here. Pajamas perfectly acceptable. Coffee and tea at the ready. Stay for 10 minutes, stay for two hours. It's a good time. 

I had a most marvelous PsychoReikiTherapy session with Cathy.

I caught up with Jen C at her house.

I dropped one of Jen's kids at the elementary school on the way home and caught up with one of my kids former teachers.

I caught up with my mom.

Every once in a while it's good to NOT have a plan. To make it up as you go along. To fake it till you make it. And suddenly, the day is exactly right.

I hope YOU had a fantabulous day.

Please send some healing love and light to my sister Jane's friend: Kathleen Regan in Yorktown Heights, NY - she is having a double mastectomy tomorrow. Her journey with cancer has been brutal; her attitude has been brilliant. Thanks!

xo

Hit it with a swagger underneath,
We're not that strong,
We are making it up as we go along.

http://youtu.be/ZdLTP6URM5U

It's Saturday morning. It has been a LONG week - late nights for the past three days. Coffee is doing it's job on me right now.

Yesterday, Edward Scissorhands was in the salon. OK, not really. But Kathy was all in for new looks. I got one. Three out of four Pinque's do not like it. Me, I love it. Redish purple red with short, funky hair. It's only hair and I am the first person you see when you walk in. I should have fun hair. And I think it's fun. Yeah, yeah - I'll try to get a picture taken today.

Then there was a client who totally changed her look last night. I advised her to keep her eyes closed until the big reveal. She cried tears of happiness when she opened her eyes.

It was not confetti on the floor (see today's FB post) but hair. Everywhere. A lot of it. Productivity at it's finest.

Here's to Saturday. At the salon today we will be working for the weekend. It starts when the last client leaves.

Here's to color and cuts - they change you from the outside in.

xo

You know this is the truth.
Everybody's working for the weekend

http://youtu.be/ahvSgFHzJIc

Yesterday's piece on grief struck a chord with many, MANY people.

As a result, I would like to explain a little further just how the piece came to be. 

On Wednesday morning, I was having a conversation with a friend before work. Our conversation ran through a gamut of topics, but, the one topic that really stayed with me was her grief about a life situation that had nothing to do with the death of human, rather, it was the death of a friendship.

I decided right then and there that yesterday's blog post would be on grief. 

I never quite know how a post will start and end - my fingers take on a life of their own and I swear to you, sometimes I go back and read a blog and think to myself, "Holy Hannah - THAT was some good writing." 

When I wrote it, I was not in a place of sadness, or despair, or anything remotely grief stricken. For all of you who sent me messages of love, I am sincerely and deeply touched. Because the fact of the matter is this - at any given time I might be filled with grief for a myriad of reasons.

For long periods last year, there were many days when I was bogged down with sadness. Gut wrenching heartache. It is a horrid place to be and I am grateful most of the despair has lifted.

I heard from so many people after they read the blog. I was especially touched to hear from people who have known me almost as long as my immediate family has. Beautiful, sincere, lovely, gorgeous words were written to me. 

My friend Mary wrote a beautiful blog yesterday. I am honored, she quoted me in. Please read her words, they will resonate with anyone going through a period of darkness.

The topic of grief is one that is universally felt but not universally understood. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings about the post; we are all in this crazy thing called life together. We are all doing THE best we can with whatever our circumstances are.

And of course, since it's Friday, let's dance away our blues.

I really want to dance away
Dance away the blues, baby now
When you really ain't got nothing left to lose
Dance away the blues

http://youtu.be/Z4ZhT5mvfGc