The "Salon" Experience

    OK.  So we all have idiosyncrasies. I am a hair fanatic.  As I shared in a previous post "Hair I Go", I have two hairdressers.  You can go back and read that for the why and the what.  I had decided that since Mother Nature was thugging us with the heat this summer, I would get a haircut.  Now my city hairdresser, is not really a cutter beyond clipping ends.  That's cool by me though. 

    I have this fabulous new store not far from where I live.  It's called ULTA.  I don't know if you're into girly stuff like I am--but if you are--it's like a pamper yourself supermarket.  Everything hair, makeup and body you could imagine from lipstick to soy candles to Hair dryers.  In this little slice of makeup Utopia--what else could you call a place that has 5000 shades of lipstick--they have...drumroll please...a HAIR SALON.  Like right there inside.  So, coupon in hand, I rang them up while thinking how to ask whether or not they knew how to work with hair like mine.  Like a flash of lightning it came to me.  " 'Hi, I wanted to find out if you guys do ethnic hair?' " " 'Absolutely miss, would you like an appointment?' "  So,  with coupon in hand I went. 

   I don't know if I could be more in like with an experience.  I arrived for my "appointment".  I was offered water, tea, iced tea, coffee and SCONES.  Really? Scones?  I had an orange one.  As I began my salon service. I was asked what kind of cut I wanted and if I had a picture or did I need to use the computer library.  Impressive.  I showed her the picture and when she said how much hair she had to take off I decided to take the blunt cut bob on the wall.  Kacie was my "couture stylist."  She gave me a free tea tree treatment and proceeded to cut my hair like she was Edward Scissorhands.  She talked about how she loved her work and I believe her.  MY SHIT LOOKED GOOD.  Shout out to my new hairgirl Kacie. 

    I'm gonna teach her how to put in a black girl perm and we are gonna be best buds.  She said that she gets blowouts and flatirons from the Dominicans that I go--they are the only ones that can get her hair straight.  So shout out to Kacie I will see you next pay "girlfren".

Are You Being The Partner You Want?

     I am always fascinated by what happens when women get together and the topic turns to men.  A group of sisters who are educated, motivated, intellectual and intelligent that for the most part are single. This has been discussed often and rancorously.  If you ask any woman about men she will have a history--via--personal experience about what is wrong with men.  She will also likely pine for another opportunity with someone knowing what she knows now.  The reality is, most of us can relate to this.

    There is a verse in the Bible that says: " To whom much is given, much is required.  So shall it be."  While this is not typically a verse used to characterize relationships, it somehow seems fitting.  As sisters, many of us have a laundry list of qualities we want in a potential partner.  I used to have one.  Given my current situation and life, I don't believe in absolutes any longer.  I think that "THE ONE" exists for everybody.  No person is perfect, more importantly we are not perfect in ourselves.  What right would I have to demand a perfect partner?  Or a perfect relationship?

    This is the point where Christians would say that true love is designed by God and if you live a life of faith and obedience to God this magical love will be provided to you.  That may be true, but since people are full of imperfections they would only mess it up.  Yep, me included. 

     On any given day, how many of the qualities you demand in a partner do you demand in yourself?  Are you consistent in the giving, demonstration and tolerance that signify love of the magnitude you want?  How IN LOVE are you with yourself?  Can you pass the "Naked In Front Of the Mirror" test?  What about the "Hold A Mirror to Your Soul" test?  We need to look inside and clear out clutter, ugliness and the pain of past relationships to be the lover that deserves the perfect love.  The test is simple.  After you strip all the layers away, would you want to spend the rest of your life with you?  Think on it.

The Kardashian Effect

     So, I freely and shamelessly admit that I have been ensnared by the beast of reality TV.  Can I also say that it wasn't completely my fault?  I overheard some teenage girls talking about "Keeping Up With The Kardashians.  I decided to watch it.  It was the beginning of my descent into the junk TV abyss.  I watched for research. 

     So, I've been right there with Khloe, Kim and Kourtney through the joy and pain.  Let me preface by saying this:  as women we all make choices  and many of them wouldn't necessarily survive dissection.  OK.  Here I go.  So, three rich sisters have the same issues as regular me.  After watching the show a few times I was sad for them on some level and worried for the younger women who watch the reality drama unfold.  For many young people the belief is that money somehow has the ability to make the world more right.

    Kourtney is saddled with a less than stellar partner who is now her babydaddy.  My fear is that thid provides reinforcement for the young sisters watching.   The fact of the matter is that as women we need to model positive behaviors for our sisters.  Now, of course, so would argue that she is modeling the importance of maintaining the family unit.  That's fine but riddle me this:  if it takes a man amd a woman to make a baby why wouldn't it take the same two people to make a family? 

     Khloe seems to have fared a little better than her sister.  The reality is, everyone you encounter and everything you do today places its footprint on a tomorrow--be it yours on someone else's.  I think so...and what.