By: Donna Hale Chandler
I color my hair myself – which is the subject of today’s Beauty Advice.
For some reason (it seemed like a good idea at the time) I decided to color my hair in the morning before I started my day. When it was time for bed the night before, I set the alarm on my cell phone for 6:00 am. This would give me plenty of time to make myself presentable before the dead-line I’d set for myself of 8:00 am. (Everyone should be up and ready to ‘meet the day’ by 8:00. A point that I’m sure would be debated by many who like to stay snuggled under the covers a bit longer.)
It felt as though I had just dozed off when my cell phone is playing that catchy little happy tune to wake me…………. Up I hop ……. Into the bathroom …. Mix the color …. Cover my head with goop, paying special attention to the grey around the edges … Set the timer for 20 minutes. Warm a cup of left-over coffee and prepare to read my morning newspaper while I wait for Lady Clairol to produce her miracle.
But the newspaper hadn’t arrived. My newspaper delivery person is never, ever late. Why do they have to be late today? I can’t think of any other way to get through 20 minutes with goopy hair, except to sit quietly and read. But there is NO newspaper!
As I walk past the kitchen, I glace at the clock on the wall. 12:45 am. Oh dear, my clock has stopped ……. Search for new batteries. No. Wait. The clock is running. WHAT TIME IS IT? Check the time on the cable box (that time is ALWAYS correct, right?) 12:45 AM! WHAT THE HECK? No wonder I felt like I had just dozed off. I DID. What am I doing up at 12:45 with color all over my head? I haven’t slept enough!
Wait! Did I set my phone alarm wrong? Nah, I wouldn’t make a mistake like that, would I? Go to the bedroom to check the phone …. Nope, I didn’t make a mistake. The alarm is set to go off at 6:00 am.
Oh my ………….. I have a voice mail. Someone called me at 12:45. There was a voicemail. It must be an emergency. Something has happened to one of my children. Oh goodness, why didn’t I realize it was the phone, not the alarm? Dreading to listen to bad news and already wondering how fast I could get myself together to go to the rescue (what happens to my hair if I rinse this stuff off before the 20 minutes is up? Or maybe I’ll just leave it on and only take time to grab my purse and go. What would happen to my hair then?)
Holding my breath, I punch in the numbers. My son is evidently in a bar with a group of his friends. He’s listening to karaoke and felt the irresistible urge to share with me the sound of his favorite singer of the evening. Maybe he was even the singer. Who knows? AT 12:45 AM,,,,, WHO EVEN CARES????
I do know one thing absolutely and positively …….. As soon as I rinse this stuff off my hair, I’M GOING BACK TO BED. (after I turn off my phone alarm, of course) and I don’t think I’ll be ‘meeting the day’ at 8:00 AM GEEZZZ!
(The complete story can be found in Life Happens (My Story). See our Book page.)
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Gram use’ta say
“Figure it out.
If you just can’t figure it out, read the directions.”
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Am I The Only One 