Marilyn & Eunice, Memphis, TN

This sassy Southern Bell Marilyn, has been working with Eunice for 50 years! That's as old as I am! It was so entertaining to interview these two. I couldn't stop smiling from their witty repartee...humor so dry that I had to pay close attention to get their jokes coming out like rapid fire. Eunice keeps a photo of Marilyn's 'girls' at her salon post. The 'girls' are two greyhounds who are Marilyn's pride and joy. Ruby and I felt lucky to have met Marilyn and Eunice and we will be enjoying their energy for a long time to come. As a side note-Eunice has so many clients that are like family...one client even gave Eunice a car. The love is ever-present and proof of the amazingly intimate relationship between client and hairstylist. Stay tuned for some video of these two...

Gene Finney, Memphis, TN

This is Gene Finney. He works at Gould's Salon in Memphis, TN and is 81 years young. He has been working as a stylist for 48 years and still continues to do so. Gene plays the harmonica in church, on a CD and for his clients as they sit in his chair. His finger is taped because the nerve in one of them is dead. His hand went through a window as he was helping a fellow passenger on a bus. That hasn't stopped him from working, playing or enjoying his life. His energy is contagious and I enjoyed the personal concert he gave me in Memphis!

Blossom's Hand, Long Island, NY

Blossom's hand, the hand of a woman, still working, still dressed impeccably and rich in years and life experience. Her manicurist, younger hands adding to the beauty of her elder...there is something very beautiful and poignant about this generational "hand off" - an evident camaraderie.

Harriet, Santa Monica, CA

Harriet gets taken to the beauty parlor by her daughter for her weekly appointment. She is shy and has been working with her stylist, Cindy, for quite awhile. Her stylist used to own the shop where she is now. I love the way Harriet's curlers match her shirt, color coordinated like her shoes and cane. Beautiful.

Response from Lillian's Friend, Joy

Hello Lily,

You are right, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and your beauty is definitely more than skin deep and certainly surrounds your heart and soul. I loved your letter to Robbie Kaye and thank both of you for making all of us altahs feel so much more attractive in our present and future stages of life. Now if Hari could just come to Florida and help out the gang here, we could all really strut our best stuff with crowning confidence.

Be good, stay glorious and beautiful and keep Georgie smiling.

Love you,

Joy

Lillian, Her words - Houston, TX

This is an email I received from Lillian, one of my beautiful models in Texas, in response to the interview that was posted yesterday on "Imperfect Women." I wanted to share it with you because it is so poignant, it made me cry. Lillian will be 83 years young this month on the 19th.

For all the elderly or seniors out there, I thank you for helping me feel more comfortable in my skin. I am also most thankful to my hair stylist, my beautiful daughter Hari for assisting in this process. I have mirrors in assorted sizes and none of them lie and yet my daughter (s) keep telling me how beautiful I am and my son says I am youthful. I suppose it's true? that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. Perhaps the courage we elders have, or the fact that we do see a future down the road and that we face all of it with humor (on most days), gives us that extra sparkle of youth.

Here is the interview found at "Imperfect Women," a site you should see:
http://www.imperfectwomen.com/beauty-of-wisdom/

Collective Healing

When I first heard about Twitter or other online communities of networking I was reluctant and skeptical about the whole thing. Today, I am so grateful for being a participant of these communities as I have connected with so many amazing people from all over the world and I feel a collective healing taking place. My so-called "idealistic" views are stronger than ever and I am witnessing true confirmation in all that I see and experience and these online communities are so much a part of this "movement." I am reassured that the world in all it's imperfection, is amazingly abundant with people who possess pure souls and desires for contributing love and life and awareness to our universe. All you have to do is read the entries here or see the people on Twitter reaching out to other people, to teach them how to love themselves and others more deeply more honestly. In total, all of this connectedness has to make a collective difference to each one of us individually which creates a universal shift in energy and I just want to say thank you to each woman, each man, who takes the time and makes the effort to create this glorious synergy. I believe that the women here on my blog play a large role in creating this universal love ... they are forgiving, understanding and honest and have led the way for me to start living my life as Ellen from New Orleans reminded me, more authentically. And what that means to me, is living 'my' life and not another's life, with love and gentility. I will have so much more of me to share. Stay tuned for more beauties from "The Beauty of Wisdom" and thank you so much for taking the time to be part of my journey. I hope you enjoy this photo I took as the sun rose in Molokai, HI this past September when I became 50 years young.

Julie, Baton Rouge, LA

This is Miss Julie. She was reluctant at first to have me take her photograph, but Glenn, her hairstylist at the Hair Unlimited, persuaded her and once we got started she was just fine. Julie worked through her 70's and is now retired at 85. She's been working with Glenn for 7 years and to listen to them speak to each other you would think that they are sisters or long time friends, catching up on each other's lives. Miss Julie does not dye her hair and as you can see has beautiful manicured hands. Julie said that very little could stop her from missing her weekly morning appointment.