New Do
After having it short for about 18 months, I was letting my hair grow out, and it was just hitting my shoulders. I was liking the way it looked, except for this one section on the right side. This particular section of hair always turns frizzy when it gets long, and that’s exactly what had happened over the past few weeks. No matter how I dried it or what products I put on it, this section looked fried. And, I couldn’t stand it! So, I decided to get it all cut off – real short!
My daughter, Christy, had recently graduated from cosmetology school and had just passed the written part of her state board exams. I had been avoiding getting my hair cut by her because I loved my current hair stylist, Kristin. However, I knew I would have to go to Christy sooner or later; after all, she IS my daughter. It’s not that I didn’t trust Christy. Many of my family members have been having Christy cut their hair for the past year, and Christy has done a great job! It’s just that – I don’t know, when you find someone you really like, you don’t want to let anyone else touch your hair. It’s a “girl” thing, I think. And besides, it’s the only thing I really care about. I don’t get my nails done, I don’t put much effort into clothes, and I wear a minimal amount of makeup. So, my hair is “my thing.”
Anyway, I arrived at Christy’s house at 9 a.m., and we made a quick Starbucks run. (I had to have my morning Caramel Macchiato.) Back at Christy’s, I told her that I wanted my hair “real short.” She was definitely apprehensive about cutting it “real short,” which started to make me a little nervous about my decision to have her touch my hair. “Be supportive of your daughter,” I said to myself. After all, if the haircut turned out bad, I could always go to Kristin and have her fix it.
I couldn’t watch the chunks of hair fall to the floor as Christy started cutting my hair. After a while, Christy asked me if it was short enough. I felt it and said, “Shorter.” The sound of her sucking in her breath almost made me yell, “Stop!” But, I resisted and she continued to cut. After about three-quarters of an hour, she finished cutting and started blow drying. Then she handed me the mirror. I was almost afraid to look.
But I did look. And, I loved my new haircut. It was definitely short, and very sassy. Even my husband, Dennis, liked it.
So now I have to make the next big leap: letting Christy color my hair. That makes me really nervous, way more than having her cut my hair. Oh well, if I have green hair next time you see me, you’ll know that I took the plunge. What we do for our children…
After having it short for about 18 months, I was letting my hair grow out, and it was just hitting my shoulders. I was liking the way it looked, except for this one section on the right side. This particular section of hair always turns frizzy when it gets long, and that’s exactly what had happened over the past few weeks. No matter how I dried it or what products I put on it, this section looked fried. And, I couldn’t stand it! So, I decided to get it all cut off – real short!
My daughter, Christy, had recently graduated from cosmetology school and had just passed the written part of her state board exams. I had been avoiding getting my hair cut by her because I loved my current hair stylist, Kristin. However, I knew I would have to go to Christy sooner or later; after all, she IS my daughter. It’s not that I didn’t trust Christy. Many of my family members have been having Christy cut their hair for the past year, and Christy has done a great job! It’s just that – I don’t know, when you find someone you really like, you don’t want to let anyone else touch your hair. It’s a “girl” thing, I think. And besides, it’s the only thing I really care about. I don’t get my nails done, I don’t put much effort into clothes, and I wear a minimal amount of makeup. So, my hair is “my thing.”
Anyway, I arrived at Christy’s house at 9 a.m., and we made a quick Starbucks run. (I had to have my morning Caramel Macchiato.) Back at Christy’s, I told her that I wanted my hair “real short.” She was definitely apprehensive about cutting it “real short,” which started to make me a little nervous about my decision to have her touch my hair. “Be supportive of your daughter,” I said to myself. After all, if the haircut turned out bad, I could always go to Kristin and have her fix it.
I couldn’t watch the chunks of hair fall to the floor as Christy started cutting my hair. After a while, Christy asked me if it was short enough. I felt it and said, “Shorter.” The sound of her sucking in her breath almost made me yell, “Stop!” But, I resisted and she continued to cut. After about three-quarters of an hour, she finished cutting and started blow drying. Then she handed me the mirror. I was almost afraid to look.
But I did look. And, I loved my new haircut. It was definitely short, and very sassy. Even my husband, Dennis, liked it.
So now I have to make the next big leap: letting Christy color my hair. That makes me really nervous, way more than having her cut my hair. Oh well, if I have green hair next time you see me, you’ll know that I took the plunge. What we do for our children…
Christy cutting Kathleen's hair in cosmetology school
My neice, Madison, and me with my new haircut
Esther
This evening I took myself and my new short hair to see the musical production of “Esther,” presented by the senior high youth of my church, Covenant Life Church. I also brought my niece, Madison, and my mom and dad.
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The book of Esther, in the Old Testament, is the story of a Jewish orphan girl who becomes the queen of Persia and saves her people from a plot to destroy them by the king’s right-hand man, Haman. As the story goes, King Xerxes held a huge banquet for everyone in his kingdom. When Xerxes was drunk, he ordered his wife, Queen Vashti, to appear at the banquet to parade her beauty for the guests. But Vashti refused. As punishment for Vashti’s disobedience, the king banished her from the palace. To choose a new queen, the king called for a beauty pageant. He chose Esther and married her. She kept her Jewish identity a secret on the advice of Mordecai, her uncle.
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Meanwhile, two of the king’s ministers plotted to kill the king. Mordecai learned of their plot, told Queen Esther, and Esther reported it to the king. The king ordered the two plotters to be hanged. King Xerxes then chose Haman as his senior minister. Haman demanded complete loyalty of everyone in the king’s service, and ordered all to bow down to him. But Mordecai refused, giving as an excuse that bowing down to another person was forbidden by his Jewish faith. This angered Haman, and he decreed the destruction not only of Mordecai, but of all the Jews of the kingdom.
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To determine the day for carrying out the decree, Haman cast lots, or “purim.” The lot fell on the 13th of Adar. News of the decree spread throughout the kingdom, and the Jews were greatly distressed. Mordecai urged Esther to plead with the king to save the lives of her people. Queen Esther summoned all of her courage and went before the king. By using her feminine wiles, Esther persuaded the king to offer her the fulfillment of any wish. She told him about the plot against her people and asked that it be stopped. She reminded the king that her uncle, who was a Jew, had saved the king’s life. When the king found out that Haman was behind this and had planned to kill the man who saved his life, the king ordered Haman to be hanged.
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Unfortunately, law prohibited the king from revoking the decree for the destruction of the Jewish people, so instead he issued another decree that allowed the Jews to defend themselves. So, the Jews were able to defend themselves and destroyed their enemies. On the day intended for their destruction, the Jewish people were saved.
To celebrate their survival, Mordecai declared the 14th and 15th days of Adar to be days of rejoicing, from that time forth and for all the generations to come.
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King Xerxes and the feast
The king's men telling Queen Vashti that the king requests her presence at the feast
Vashti refuses the king's request to attend the feast
Esther with her baked wares at the well
Beauty school
The wedding of King Xerxes and Esther 
Queen Esther laments the impending destruction of the Jewish people by the king
The arrogant Haman 
Esther's uncle Mordecai observing the king's 7 eunuchs dancing
The Jews celebrating victory at the feast of Purim
