Rita, Memphis, TN

As these women get older, they outlive their spouses, friends and family. Their bond to their longtime hairstylist grows even stronger and they socialize and keep each other company. Tonight, Rita is going out to dinner and a movie with Eunice, who she has worked with, laughed and cried with, for 50 years. They have each other...

Doris & Pepe, Long Island, NY

Our mothers and grandmothers were the housekeepers, the silent partners of accounting and organizing family gatherings, the emotional anchors that we all leaned on. In their day, where else could they go to get replenished? Therapy was not popular or affordable, support groups - hardly established...so they went to the beauty parlor, not only to have their hair "done" but to get a little TLC too, and a little love and coffee served to them and it all made them smile and feel pampered if only for one hour. It's no wonder they were so dedicated to these weekly rituals.

This is Doris with her hairstylist, Pepe.
(Doris is my mom, my anchor)

Aliene's poem to Debbie

This is the reply poem that Aliene wrote to her daughter, Debbie. Amazing and so funny!




My Mother’s Little Secret
Deb wrote it just for me..
The mirror showed a reflection
Her mother she did see.

She saw those bright eyes shining,
The smile you can’t erase.
Yes when she looked into the mirror,
She saw her mother’s face.

She didn’t get the body,
From the neck down to the toe.
She got the love that’s in my heart,
I want you all to know.

She doesn’t have those great big boobs
Hers are rather small.
A reflection of her mother,
But she didn’t get it all.

And she can thank her lucky stars
For a body neat and trim.
For when I get into my clothes,
I fill them to the brim.

My Daughter when you reach my age,
In the mirror what will you see?
A reflection of your mother’s face,
Or will it be All of Me???
By Aliene Bell

Photo: Peggy, Santa Monica, CA