Mom's Hair Dresser

Mom had a hair appointment today.  She's been getting her hair done almost every week for the past twenty-something years, by the same hair dresser named Betsy. 

Betsy is very cool.  I know she's older than I am but I can't guess her age.  She has one of those faces that doesn't give away secrets like that.  She is a pretty blonde who has been living in our little town all her life, in the house her parents had when she grew up.  She's about 5'7" or so and has a lovely shaped body that her yoga classes help keep the kinks out of every week.  She works hard (when she's not working as a hair dresser, she does housekeeping). 
Betsy loves animals, has a new best friend Golden Retriever male who helps her feel safe.  Betsy is alone - no husband past or present, no children, but you'd think she was Mama Walton by the way she loves people young and old so much.  I'm not saying she's as pure white as Mama Walton appeared to be...

It surprised me one day when she said the "F" word.  I blurted out laughing because I never expected to hear that word come out of her mouth.  Like I said, she's very cool in ways I wouldn't have expected (saying the "F" word is not all I am basing her coolness on, BTW)  She has also said things I'll cherish in my heart forever. 

Betsy loves my mother.  The two of them see each other almost every week, and during the two - four hours Mom is with Betsy, they tell each other everything.  I mean, EVERYTHING!   That old advertising slogan by a hair product (Loreal?) that goes "Only my hair dresser knows!" holds true for my mother but not just about the color of her hair; only Mom's hair dresser knows E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G about Mom's life and the lives of Mom's children, myself included.

Betsy knew me when I was pregnant with my son who is now 27 years old.  She saw him grow up, as she did my daughter who is now 19 years old.  She knows every event that has happened in their lives (and mine) including the good, the bad, and the ugly.  She has cried with us and laughed with us and has given us the best of advice for any situation we are faced with.  She is the rational outside opinion from someone who knows all (somehow).  I trust her with my life, my mother's life, and the lives of my children more than I trust some of those with whom we are supposed to place that trust.  Sounds extreme, but it's true. 

Wrapped up in one sentence, Betsy is a jewel and we love her.  She makes my mother look better and feel better but not just by doing Mom's hair.  She is my mother's friend and psychologist too.  I don't know what Mom would have done without that woman in her life, going through all that Mom has gone through alone since I was eleven (when my Dad died - he's a fallen firefighter).  Betsy gives my Mom strength and courage, and offers support to build Mom up and a shoulder to cry on when she needs one.

There is nothing I can say about Betsy that isn't good.  Make that great.  What does a person do for a woman like that?  How do I show my appreciation of this woman who has been there for my mother all these years?  I rack my brain, search my heart, and there's nothing that I can do for her, no words I can speak, nothing I can give her that even comes close to how I (we) feel about Betsy.

I took this photo with the camera in my new cell phone my daughter got me (it arrived today)  I had no idea it had a phone in it till just a minute ago!  ha!  What'll they think of next?  I can send my cell phone photos to the internet!  SHEESH!  I love it! 

Isn't she beautiful?  Her hair looks beautiful too, doesn't it?  She's one tired Mom after all she did today.  Mom is really doing great for someone with inflammatory breast cancer, Parkinson's Disease, and congestive heart failure, right?  I think she's the most beautiful lady I know.  Okay.  She and her hair dresser.  lol.