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The Lady In Red-A Funny Story
As tomorrow is the anniversary of my mom’s death, indulge me again. I pass on another story of the Lady in Red, this time a funny one.
As many of you know, my mother was a hairdresser by profession. She opened her first beauty salon in Mesa, Arizona in 1959 and had it for a number of years before selling it. She got bored helping my dad with his business and soon bought another salon this time in Scottsdale, Arizona. If you don’t know, Scottsdale is noted for being an upscale city in Arizona and just the mere mention of the town and you know you are usually living high. She didn’t buy just anywhere in Scottsdale but on the highly acclaimed “Fifth Avenue” which is a shopper’s paradise.
My mom was going all out and the stakes where raised high. Frankly, my dad thought she had lost her mind this time. But the Lady in Red was a gambler and so wanted a fancy shop. She brought in a great artist to do murals on the walls and had me with my great penmanship write personalized invitations to the Grand Opening to ladies in the area offering free wash and sets. She wasn’t leaving anything to chance. She was a marketing wizard in her day. Her business, Salon De Sharl soon became very successful and was busy all the time. But her patrons were from Scottsdale and mostly rich, and of course the staff catered to them. It was another world for my mom, who had grown up very poor but as always she learned how to act in any situation except one.
That day was trying and as always she had been on her feet all day. My brother and I were fighting and calling her on the phone constantly arguing about something. Finally she told us both to go to our room and stay there until she got home. Boyd and Donna, two of her hairdressers were arguing about something in the backroom. If they brought it to the floor, she swore she would fire both on them on the spot. She was tired and her feet hurt and she didn’t want to deal with moody hairdressers or children for that matter.
Her least favorite patron sat down in her chair, “Mrs. W.” Perhaps if she joked with her a little more today, she could get her to laugh. It was not to be, even though she told her the latest antics of her son Tommy, which made all the women laugh. Mrs. W, didn’t break a smile.
As she was combing out Mrs.W. hair, she kept complaining to her, you’re not doing it right, it looks awful. Oh, my Dora, can’t you do anything right today? The curls are going the wrong way, let me do it. She grabbed the comb from my mom and proceeded to start showing my mom how to do her hair. My mom was patient and let her show her. She started again and styled Mrs W. hair. Mrs W. threw another fit, and said, not again, Dora, you are NOT doing it right at all, what in the world is the matter with you, today, and grabbed the comb from my mom’s hand. Mrs W, said, let me SHOW you how to do hair! I can do it better than you. My mother once again, proceeded to style her hair. Again, Mrs W. grabbed the comb, and yelled at mom louder this time, and said this is IT, Dora, I have told you and told you how to do my hair, do it like this! This time, Mom grabbed the comb back from Mrs W. and tapped her on the head with the comb, and said, Mrs. W. that’s the last time you are taking my comb! I have won numerous awards for hair dressing and by God you are not talking to me that way. Either let me do your hair or find another hairdresser.
Everyone in the shop turned and looked at Mom she told us. The whole shop was silent and chattering stopped as Mrs. W. silently handed mom the comb and said, proceed, Dora, I ‘m sorry.
Mom came home from work and told us her story about her and Mrs. W. She thought her business was over because she yelled at a rich patron and hit her on the head with a comb. I secretly thought, Yeah, mom, you should have punched her.
So this story is dedicated to my mom, The Lady in Red. I miss you, you were always so funny and there was nothing you couldn’t do.
Love,
Marlene
PS I will see you at VA Beach w/ my cape on- won't you love it!
Cute story Marlene. Your mom had more patience than me, I would have never made it to the 3rd time LOL
Life is like a quilt...bits & pieces, joy -and- sorrow, stitched with love
Another great story. I probably wouldn't have made it past the second time....LOL> She would have had that comb permanently attached to the top of her head.
Vinton, Virginia
Marlene as always a wonderful story, I would have never made it that far ,I'd have told here to leave .,PS did she ever come back ? Barbara
Marlene, lovely story. My mom was also a hairdresser but did not own the shop. When my dad was diagnosed with MS and unable to work, she asked for more hours and eventually became the manager of the shop when the owner had children.
She frequently came home with stories about the antics of the people in the shop and we always enjoyed hearing her tell stories.
I must agree with what all have posted, your Mom had more patience than I would have and I am not sure my Mom would have allowed three times.
So, did Mrs. W come back?
Keep up the stories. You have a talent for writing as well as quilting.
Can't wait to meet you in VA Beach. God willing, my mom will be joining us. Is it April yet??
From Western New York
Everyone,
Thanks for the kind words.. Mrs. W continued to be Mom's patron until she sold her shop. She never took the comb out of her hand again! Mom never hit another patron with a comb again. LOL She would swing a hairbrush at me or my brother in passing when we did something to make her mad though. LOL
Darlene,
I can't wait to meet you either at the beach. I am so glad you're mother will be joining us! Oh, another hairdresser, they have the funniest stories to tell! I am looking forward to meeting you both.
Yes, I agree, is it April yet?
Oh,my goodness, you don't know how many times I wanted to whack a patient. The other hygienist, when she had a crabby patient, would do a number on their gums, but I wasn't mean enough. Once, when our office manager, also the drs. Wife, critisized that hygienist, the morning of her cleaning. She came straight out of that chair after her cleaning and headed to the drs office to get some good pain meds. Then she complained to me about how rough the cleaning had been. I told her she got what she deserved for complaining right before her appt. I got to clean her teeth after that.
Love your stories Marlene, keep 'em coming.
gini in north idaho
Hi Marlene,
Wonerful story i never would have made it as far as the second time, i have found the Gibbs approach from NCIS works well for me a definate slap on the back of the head.
Lots of love
Francesxx
EEK - A cliff hanger! You didn't tell us if Mrs. W kept coming back. Oh never mind. I should have kept reading
Griffin, GA
mars92: I miss you, you were always so funny and there was nothing you couldn’t do. Love, Marlene PS I will see you at VA Beach w/ my cape on- won't you love it!
I miss you, you were always so funny and there was nothing you couldn’t do.
Great story Marlene but tears ran down my cheeks when I read the above quotes. You are a dear dear daughter. (((((HUGS)))))
Millbury, MA
Thanks Gini! Loved your story about the Dr. Wife. Now why would she think it was a good idea to criticize the hygienist the right b4 getting her teeth cleaned - not a good move. I always try to be extra sweet so they are extra gentle but they are anyways. I mean they do have "pain tools" in the hands! I never have a problem. Love my dentist, and Hygienist.
Oh, the dentist's wife was a witch! Sorry for her pain. Not really though! : )
Marie:Great story Marlene but tears ran down my cheeks when I read the above quotes.
Hugs back to you also, Marie. This one brought back some tears to me too. Thinking of her and all the things she used to do. She was a kick. She would have loved us going on about your bikini and my cape, and the the fabric I bought. She would have been ROTFLOL. She had a fantastic sense of humor.
Frances:Wonerful story
Thanks Frances, I agree. My mom should have used the brush on her instead of the comb. LOL
We love our hygienist, between my first round of chemo and the radiation I had to have my teeth cleaned and have a root canal because the radiation does such a number on your teeth, they are so booked but they got me in and the hygienist came in twice on her day off to do my teeth so it could get done in time.
Mars, great story. And I want you to know my moms name is Dora, also,
[Ava, Missouri