THE BEAUTY SALON
A blog by Len Kleeman
As I sat in the beauty parlor in Florida waiting for my significant other, I watched and admired the elderly ladies who moved about with their hair in curlers or under a drier or who proudly sat making themselves into what they wanted to be or seemed to be so many years ago. They were redheads, blondes, and a few brunettes but nary was a gray hair seen.
The salon had older persons as their clients including a few men. But primarily the clients were elderly women and they came with walkers, wheel chairs, canes, escorted by personal caregivers; or they walked in, standing straight, without any help at all. I admired them because, regardless of age, physical ability or health, they came to the salon to be or feel pretty again or to be well-groomed regardless of looks. They cared about themselves and what they looked like. They were proud and concerned about presentation. It showed a matter of pride and self- confidence regardless of age or health condition. They did not pity themselves.
Some were very wealthy, some were middle class widows, some had husbands or companions escort and wait for them; some had little money but all made it a social event. Everyone was on par and treated equally. Coffee was available and the chitter-chatter of the conversations created an operetta which filled the salon with endless gossip and news. It appeared to be an event that most of them looked forward to each week as though it were the highlight of their week’s entertainment.
It is wonderful that no matter their age or physical condition, personal looks matter to them. Is it vanity or just plain self-respect? The mothers, grandmothers, and great grandmothers who gather in this Beauty Salon, no matter what, deserve our respect, love and gratitude because they are so proud of themselves.
And we can’t take that away – be it habit, dedication, addiction, or whatever - they need their hair and nails done and they will find a way to do it, no matter what. God bless them.