See that beautiful woman there beside that stunningly darling baby? That is our friend Melissa who cuts our family's hair. Well, most of our family's hair. And this is how long she's been attending to our hair-cutting needs.
That was Owen.
Here's what he looked like afterwards.
Here's what he looked like afterwards.
That was twelve years ago. He was three. Almost four.
While we're at it:
While we're at it:
Gibson!
August. Remember those blonde curls?
Oh my. He and Maggie both had the best baby hair in the world.
Oh my. He and Maggie both had the best baby hair in the world.
Levon in mid-haircut, enjoying a large lollipop.
So yes, we've been going to see Melissa for a long time. The grown-ups too, by the way. We met her originally through our friend, Juancho, whom Hank met and then I met through blogging. Juancho is the man who performed Hank and Rachel's wedding. Melissa is his wife. When we met Juancho, he had no wife but then he re-met his early, early girlfriend and voila! They became the most darling couple in the world and we all fell in love with Melissa.
That's the story.
So, speaking of stories, today I had my annual (yes, true) appointment with Melissa to get my hair trimmed. I was anxious before the appointment and I do not know why. Obviously Melissa is family so why was I stressing?
I decided it was probably because I had to sit and look into a mirror for at least fifteen minutes and I avoid looking into mirrors as much as possible.
Sad but very true.
But once I got there, everything was absolutely fine and cool and we started catching up with each other's lives and I told her about the house that came with the dock we bought and then she told me some of the things going on her life and ended up telling me stories about her family that no one in this world would believe except perhaps for other southerners and honey, I will be pondering these tales for a long, long time. And all of these stories had a lot to do with what is happening currently in her life and I sat there with my mouth open and my eyes wide as she carefully took off a few inches of my hair.
It was the most exciting thing that's happened to me in a very long time. You could not only write a book about these tales, you could write five or six books.
Soon, too soon, she was finished with my hair and un-caped me and I stood up and we went through the payment thing and she never charges enough, NEVER! and I was about to leave when I asked her a question about someone else in her extended family (none of your business) and oh, Lord, oh my god, oh no, that-can't-be-true-stories came pouring out. This is not gossip. This is real stuff that has happened in the recent past and I was so glad that she didn't have an appointment right after me because I was both horrified and thrilled at the things happening in that quadrant of the family.
"She did WHAT?!"
Oh Jesus. I wish I could tell you.
I decided it was probably because I had to sit and look into a mirror for at least fifteen minutes and I avoid looking into mirrors as much as possible.
Sad but very true.
But once I got there, everything was absolutely fine and cool and we started catching up with each other's lives and I told her about the house that came with the dock we bought and then she told me some of the things going on her life and ended up telling me stories about her family that no one in this world would believe except perhaps for other southerners and honey, I will be pondering these tales for a long, long time. And all of these stories had a lot to do with what is happening currently in her life and I sat there with my mouth open and my eyes wide as she carefully took off a few inches of my hair.
It was the most exciting thing that's happened to me in a very long time. You could not only write a book about these tales, you could write five or six books.
Soon, too soon, she was finished with my hair and un-caped me and I stood up and we went through the payment thing and she never charges enough, NEVER! and I was about to leave when I asked her a question about someone else in her extended family (none of your business) and oh, Lord, oh my god, oh no, that-can't-be-true-stories came pouring out. This is not gossip. This is real stuff that has happened in the recent past and I was so glad that she didn't have an appointment right after me because I was both horrified and thrilled at the things happening in that quadrant of the family.
"She did WHAT?!"
Oh Jesus. I wish I could tell you.
And like I said, this was not gossip. This was just the facts, m'am. Last time I was there we discussed pre-menopause and menopause. What I'm saying is, is that we talk about serious real things. No la-di-dah tea-spilling here.
Life is complex. Life is often unbelievable. Life is generally interesting. Life is hard. Life is messy as fuck. Life is what we are living this very second.
Life is complex. Life is often unbelievable. Life is generally interesting. Life is hard. Life is messy as fuck. Life is what we are living this very second.
Phew.
****************
So it has begun. After Mr. Moon sold a vehicle this morning which involved getting it on a trailer and a whole lot of sweat and work, he went up to Georgia to do some pressure washing. We were both leaving the house at about the same time.
"I'll probably be back for supper," he said.
What? Probably?
I sighed internally and said, "Well, just text me and let me know. Keep me updated."
At which point he reminded me that he can't text me from that house because there's no cell service there for our phones.
"I'll probably be back for supper," he said.
What? Probably?
I sighed internally and said, "Well, just text me and let me know. Keep me updated."
At which point he reminded me that he can't text me from that house because there's no cell service there for our phones.
Okay.
Hey! My green beans are going to be ready to eat very, very soon.
The history of Moon hair! Such lovely kids. And is the cabin going to be the centerpiece of Mr Moon's life for a while?
ReplyDeleteWithout a doubt.
DeleteThe beans look ready to eat NOW unless there aren't enough to bother yet. Growing up i ate green beans cooked long and slow with bacon, onions in them. I moved to Michigan and oh gosh, they ate them nearly raw here. But I caved and learned to cook them Yankee style. Now I treat them as two different vegetables, depending on who I am feeding them to.
ReplyDeleteThat is a good way to view the cooking of vegetables. I like to cook them very lightly for salads and a bit longer as a side dish.
DeleteYou have a long history with Melissa. Your photos show she is a talented stylist. I see cute kids with great haircuts.
ReplyDeleteThe beans in your garden are looking good and will make a great addition to meals.
There is no lack of projects at the new cabin, and they seem to be the priority for now.
Those green beans look ready to eat right now! To me anyway, though I don't mind them a little bigger. It's nice to have a hairdresser for so long. I hate going to the hairdresser, because the hot lights and cape make my face red and fat and I feel uncomfortable seeing that. Plus a shampoo and trim here is $65!! I recognised all the baby photos for who they were, Maggie is unmistakeable.
ReplyDeleteThat boat will look good tied up to your dock.
Now I’m doing to hear all those stories! She did WHAT?!? These photos are priceless. Poor Gibson looks like someone just told him the story of Samson and Delilah. I’m with you when it comes to sitting in a salon chair and having to stare at myself in the mirror. I also hate when people have a big mirror on the dining room and I have to sit and face it. WE have a big mirror on the dining room wall! Mary, Mary, how quickly your garden does grow!
ReplyDeleteI hope you guys can set up some sort of communication system at the cabin so you can keep in touch with each other. I wouldn't like that you can't reach him and/or he can't reach you. And won't you want your kids to be able to contact you when you guys are there? I bet Mr. Moon will figure it out.
ReplyDeleteHard to believe there's no cell service out there. It's not like it's out in the middle of Big Bend or anything, it's Georgia. Might have to get a landline.
ReplyDeleteI'm on my second hairdresser out here. I finally quit going to the first one even though she did a good job because she would complain the whole time about the townspeople and how she would buy stuff from their shops but they never came to get their hair cut from her.
I should have picked more beans yesterday but forgot.
Those baby curls all gone! Its always tough to see them go.
ReplyDeleteGreen Beans...mmmm... nothing better than fresh homegrown!
Finding a good hairdresser is a quest - finding one you can talk to is a blessing. I like a bit of crunch in my beans.
ReplyDelete