The Hairdresser

The in-home stylist — we visited her at her home, usually.

The salon specialist was a person in our neighborhood outside of our immediate family. She informed us of the families in our area that were part of our lines, but not so close.

We got information about those who were extended from our home life but part of our community at large. These were women we saw on occasion at church, at Easter or Christmas, but not on a weekly or daily basis.

Like, for example, Anna. I loved her brown eyes and pig tails. Her family lived near my uncle's house, but they were a family we rarely saw. Anna's family owned a bakery, and probably still do.

The beauty salon was a place of socializing and learning about what the kids of families were up to. As the children of immigrant families got older, the hair stylist kept us up to date on everyone's whereabouts.

It helped to go to the neighborhood salon, because it gave us information we would otherwise miss.

Our hair cuts gave us confidence, and a therapy that allowed us to talk in a neighborly, safe environment.

After a hair cut we felt renewed, energized and ready to return to our daily routines.

I always look forward to getting a hair cut, and it never ceases to amaze me how much information can be exchanged in a short time.