Beauty and Wisdom

Beauty and Wisdom is featured in Imprints Mag - by Professional Women's Photography

2012-01-19T09:39:00.001-08:00

Get Happy!

2012-01-18T10:46:00.001-08:00

Balancing Act

2012-01-10T13:56:00.000-08:00

It's so easy to get caught up in the busy-ness of life. One long breath, one long walk, one long hug in addition to everything else we do.... will help us 'be' more peacefully.

Photo: NYC 2011/ robbie kaye

honey lazar: 3D Aunt Ruth

2011-12-27T11:51:00.000-08:00

honey lazar: 3D Aunt Ruth

Beauty and Wisdom - In Italy! Bella!

2011-12-22T10:40:00.000-08:00

A Thank You for the Holidays...

2011-12-21T08:49:00.000-08:00

As this year comes to a close, I am exhilarated thinking about the days and months that have led up to now... I have learned so much, from so many and I am utterly grateful to those that read my blog and connect with me through social media. Yes, as with everything there are pros and cons but I try to concentrate on the pros of it all and I believe that SM has helped me to expand my horizons in so many ways. Beauty and Wisdom started as a whimsy and has grown into a purpose for me. I had the privilege of learning that so many people other than myself are looking at how they will choose to age... and ultimately live. If I was religious, my religion would be to follow all that I have learned from Abraham Hicks....as I practice their teachings as consistently as possible. I believe most 'religions' or philosophies about life are saying the same thing.... love and honor yourself and all else will follow.... or as Joseph Campbell said, "Follow your bliss." In the past, when I thought of war and all the negative aspects that occur in our world, I felt like I had to do something, be pro-active... but now I realize that taking care of myself and loving myself and learning "is" being pro-active because I believe it is in this action, that I am contributing to the energy in our universe in a positive way which can only grow into more positivity and love which leads to peace.

My wish for all is that you find your peace this year, do what makes you feel good and you can't help but share it with others... joy is truly contagious.

Thank you to you all for your support and love and for teaching me to receive and give and let live.
May your New Year shine, brighter than you could have ever imagined it to!

Where do the roads lead? Nowhere... and everywhere... and always, back to you.
Love & Light
Robbie

Pre-Order the Good Morning UniVerse 2012 Desk Calendars are HERE!!!!

2011-10-31T11:26:00.000-07:00

$12 plus Priority Shipping!

Pre-orders for the holidays ends November 30th

Click Here to Preview!

Winter's Light - Art Show - November 10th - Click on link for details

2011-10-28T15:30:00.000-07:00

So excited to share that 3 of my images will be part of the Winter's Light Show

Winter's Light Art Show - Pasadena, CA

The Women's City Club of Pasadena
160 N. Oakland Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91101
Club Phone: 626-796-0560

Come and share a winter martini!!

"Winter's Light"
Featuring sixty works by twenty one
California-based artists and photographers that celebrate the glory of the winter season!

"Winter Day" by Michael Ochinero, "Icy Blue Danube" by Beth Summers and
"Red Ridges" by Victoria Marquez

Join Us for the Reception!
Thursday, November 10 from 6 - 9 pm

The Women's City Club of Pasadena
160 N. Oakland Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91101
Club Phone: 626-796-0560

Lovely hors d'ouvres & fabulous No Host Bar
...serving the "Winter's Light" Martini !

Introducing our new artists ...
Patricia Anderson, Linda Brown Larry Darnell
Danny De La Matyr, Marian Fortunati, Robbie Kaye
Anna T. Kelly, Julie Hill, Debra Hintz
Natalie Lundeen, Victoria Marquez, Terry Romero Paul
Michael Ochinero, Christina Ramos, Julie Snyder
Diana Stewart, Beth Summers, Judy Taussig
Sharon Weaver, Sarah Wilkinson and Felice Willat

EXHIBITION ON VIEW
NOVEMBER 1, 2011 THROUGH JANUARY 31, 2012

Free Parking off Madison Avenue behind the building!

I am happy to present - Hair for the Holidays

2011-10-27T10:38:00.000-07:00

Honey Lazar's "Loving Aunt Ruth"

2011-09-29T08:00:00.000-07:00

I am so honored to present Honey Lazar's amazing project to you, "Loving Aunt Ruth." It is a beautiful and touching testimony to how crucial it is to honor our elders and learn from all they have learned and lived...and loved. Please visit her blog -Aunt Ruth Blog - I know you will want to leave her a message because it is impossible to read her words and see her photographs without being moved. Robbie

The blog offers a pause to reflect on life's meaning, enjoy a laugh, copy a recipe, or reflect on the Aunt Ruth in your life.

Loving Aunt Ruth is the culmination of everything for which I have cared; family, story, respect, hardship, triumph, humor, and my work as a photographer. Like many Jewish women of the Greatest Generation, Aunt Ruth’s most significant relationships took place within her family, but her reach extended to friends, her temple, and civic duty. She blended Jewish faith with American pride and a deep love of family.

www.honeylazar.com
Aunt Ruth Blog

Call it Home - For every step-mom out there!

2011-07-25T07:39:00.000-07:00

Call It Home - Video by Marta Moran Bishop

Magnificent Menopause - Beauty and Wisdom on the radio!

2011-06-28T16:48:00.000-07:00

>>> Listen

Join me and discover how to:
• • •
Embrace the many gifts, challenges and mysteries of Midlife Find a new sense of completeness as a 40 + woman Get your Menopause-related health, beauty and life issues under control- and KEEP them that way!
Each week, show co hosts, Gail Edgell and Carrie Pierce provide all the answers and also a vast array of professionals in the field of Menopause so that your every question is answered clearly, concisely- and with an enjoyable and fun twist!
I’ll be appearing on the show Thursday June 30th, 2011 at 11:30 AM PST/2:30 PM EST and will be discussing the Beauty and Wisdom- the Graceful Lessons of the Invisible Generation.
We’re going to have an informative and in-depth discussion so be sure to join us!

Laurie Allyn, Dreams do come true...at any age.

2011-06-21T07:00:00.000-07:00

Laurie Allyn, In Her Own Words

It seems that I have spent a great deal of my time - maybe MOST of my Life- looking backwards. Funny, even the cover of my CD suggests this… The promising career - a culmination of exciting and heady opportunities that had begun when barely out of my teens came to a screeching halt. Before it could be released, the album that was to launch me truly into the spotlight of my dreams seemingly died with the record company as they unexpectedly went into receivership.    A failed marriage and baby daughter required a new direction. Where once I had perched on a piano, under a crystal chandelier and a tiny blue spotlight - had headlined at prestigious supper and jazz clubs, I now felt I was living the torch songs that I had loved to sing.  The girl interrupted became the woman resigned. A new life evolved - not an unhappy one, just one not quite complete when the 'what if’s’ whispered. Fast-forward nearly 50 years. Fate rewarded my faithful persistence, when quite by accident I discovered that another record company had bought the entire Mode catalog, my unreleased album included. The new producer was delighted to complete 'the set' and 'Paradise' was released in 2004. I felt I was a ghost at my own past as I listened to those raw cuts from 1957.    Oddly, it was not exactly closure but more corroboration of a lovely and exciting time in my Life.

It HAS encouraged me to want to sing again - new songs of hope and love found.  My paths and detours that have led me to this present day have taught me that Life can and does hold many blessings. Not always what we may have planned but more often than not we do receive what we have needed. And too, once in awhile our persistent knock is answered and the door opens to 'dreamsville'. We then can loosen our tight grip on that dream completed and send it up with our blessings and our gratitude.

-Laurie Allyn

I heard Laurie sing when I researched her info on CD Universe and I was so impressed that I bought Laurie's CD for my dad for this Father's Day. I will also buy one for myself. Her voice is so gorgeous, like her, in every way.

Buy Laurie's amazing CD on CD Universe Here

OR at Amazon

Find out more on Facebook Here

Please post and share your comments here!

Lens Culture show Beauty and Wisdom

2011-06-14T12:37:00.000-07:00

To see this on Lens Culture

Go to: Lens Culture

Beauty and Wisdom

photographs and text by
Robbie Kaye

Beauty & Wisdom documents a fast disappearing aspect of American culture (Americana) as well as a diminishing population of women who are part of a generation that is often overlooked. More important than their weekly ritual of going to the 'beauty parlor' is the fact that these women are extremely vibrant, wise and humorous…and committed to maintaining their life-long ritual for rejuvenation and connection.

As baby boomers age, the rituals of their mothers and grandmothers will fade and become obsolete. Beauty & Wisdom documents a generation of women, aged 70 and over, who have been going regularly to the beauty parlor once a week not as a luxury, but as a necessity, for most of their adult years. This project explores the grace and courage in which these women age in a society so heavily focused on the beauty of youth. Ironically, these are the women who opened doors for future generations of women to walk through, yet they are now part of an invisible generation.

The women in this overlooked generation may be invisible to many, but they are quite visible to me and even more so since I began driving throughout the country, two years ago, to interview and photograph these amazing women for Beauty & Wisdom. Some of the locations I photographed are Alabama, Houston, Santa Fe, Taos, Memphis, New York and Los Angeles. It is my goal to not only preserve and highlight the role of these golden beauties in our culture, but also to demystify the aging stigma and show that older women are beautiful, vibrant and have very much to contribute to society.

These lively crones live in a culture where the beauty of youth is hugely valued but the beauty of age is often ignored. In beauty parlors across America, this fading generation of women share their humor and wisdom, as I learned in New Orleans when Mrs. Guste, 88, who lost every piece of her jewelry when her house was looted during Hurricane Katrina, reminded me, "everything is borrowed and when it goes away, it's time to give it back.”

Beauty & Wisdom provided insight into my own future. As I photographed these golden ladies and listened in on their conversations and looked into their eyes, I saw the kind of courage that comes from embracing life fully without expectations, except to be happy and connected to people. Their "take me as I am" attitude has given me permission to age fearlessly with no regrets and reasons to look forward to my own aging process.

— Robbie Kaye

Mrs. Milner, from the series Beauty and Wisdom

10 Talks on TED about Aging!!!

2011-06-13T09:15:00.001-07:00

10 Talks on TED on Aging!

Beauty and Wisdom on Lens Culture

2011-06-12T14:18:00.000-07:00

lens culture

Great Women Series interviews Beauty and Wisdom

2011-06-06T09:23:00.000-07:00

Great Women Series by Ilie Ruby - Beauty and Wisdom Interview

Interview with Photographer Robbie Kaye

By Ilie, on June 6th, 2011

Robbie Kaye is a groundbreaking photographer and photojournalist, best known for her work illuminating the innate beauty of real women as they age. Her work The Beauty of Wisdom is a fresh look at the way we perceive beauty. Robbie came to photography after working a musician for many years. Now she sees melodies and compositions in the images she photographs. Please welcome Robbie Kaye to The Great Women Series today.
What is your favorite guilty pleasure? Eggplant pizza and rootbeer while vegging on the couch watching a movie, wrapped in cozy blankets.
Your one wish for the world? A collective higher-consciousness for self-love.
What is your favorite word? Delicious Least favorite word? Never
What was the most difficult age for you? 19, I lost the ability to escape into exterior pleasures and had to face my fears and feelings of being lost, not knowing who I was.
What has been the best age for you? Now is the best age for me, for all of the learning that I have done in all the previous ages leading to now is coming together, more clearly, more honestly, more lovingly.
Do you believe in karma? Yes Synchronicity? Yes Love at first sight? Not sure. Second chances? No, no regrets. (Thank you Edith Piaf!)
Do you have a secret talent? I write poetry and play classical piano.
Have you overcome your biggest obstacle? Yes… that obstacle was me… I overcame it, by loving it… me, honestly.
Will you share your biggest epiphany? It was while reading Eckhart Tolle – that I am not my thoughts!
Favorite song? I have so many but “Dirty Work” by Steeley Dan is one of them. Favorite book? To Kill a Mockingbird or Eat, Love Pray
Your work? My love of road-tripping and traveling throughout this country and others, allows me to take photographs of beautiful land and the people, animals and foliage that live on it. My Beauty & Wisdom blog is www.beautyofwisdom.com. I am on twitter as beauty of wisdom and on FB as Robbie Kaye and also Beauty of Wisdom Page. The Beauty & Wisdom Trailer is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVuwTs56IJg
One misconception people have about you? That I’m intense or gruff. What is your truth? I’m from New York, honest and I have emotions that I don’t feel I need to always hide.
What is the nicest thing anybody has ever said to you? It was a compliment about my energy… or about the work I am doing with Beauty & Wisdom.
What is your best advice for any woman who is struggling to become who she is meant to be? Read or listen to information that she relates to that helps her build that self-love muscle. For me it is Law of Attraction, Eckhart Tolle, Barbara DeAngelis and so many more… read and listen to cds or watch videos… it’s like taking vitamins for my soul and it helps in the learning of who I am, who I want to be and who I am meant to be.
What would you tell yourself 10 or 20 years ago if you could give her advice? You have a right to be here, to shine as bright as you possibly can, everyday, and to be honest with yourself first… don’t compromise that which you know is true for you…. For you are an amazing warrior, powerful, beautiful and alive and it is your job to love yourself and live in joy and love!
You can find out more about Robbie on her website, www.robbiekaye.com or www.robbiekayegallery.com Her fine art photography card store is found on Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/people/robbiekaye.

Stay tuned for Beauty and Wisdom featured on Online Mags!

2011-05-31T13:52:00.003-07:00

Good Morning UniVerse! Sign up here!!

2011-03-28T12:02:00.000-07:00

Freeze My Mind

2011-03-25T16:09:00.000-07:00

FREEZE MY MIND

2011-03-13T23:14:00.000-07:00

This was just a wonderful post I wanted to share it again!

2011-02-10T16:01:00.000-08:00

Lenscratch by Aline Smithson

Beauty & Wisdom featured on Brava! Post by Beth Hoffman, Best Selling Author!

2011-01-31T12:17:00.000-08:00

Beth Hoffman's Post on Brava for Beauty & Wisdom!!

Honey Lazar, fantastic photographer... Check out her project, "Aunt Ruth"

2011-01-22T17:20:00.001-08:00

Visit her blog and leave her a message!

Carey Moore, 84, Taos New Mexico

2011-01-05T10:09:00.000-08:00

For the holidays, I road tripped from Santa Monica to Taos, NM with my hubby and 2 dogs. What a delight to see the wide open road again and all the natural pieces in nature's museum. I felt a re-connection to my creativity and to taking pictures with my camera just for fun and the beauty of it. I always look for landscapes and skyscrapes for Good Morning UniVerse and I was blessed with an abundance of those! Then... I wasn't planning on it but I found "Spirits of Beauty," an amazing salon in Taos, where I met the most amazing spunky 84 year old, Carey. She has been an actress and a very successful painter. Along with her oxygen tank, she carries her camera in her pocketbook. As I took her photograph, she took mine and made us all laugh. Her spirit lit up that room and our hearts and Carey is proof of beauty and wisdom.

Marta Moran Bishop Author: Day Seven: Robbie Kaye

2011-01-03T09:52:00.000-08:00

Marta Moran Bishop Author: Day Seven: Robbie Kaye: "It isn't even a year since I began FB yet, so many people have touched and enriched my life. One of them is Robbie Kaye. She is a brilliant..."

Beauty & Wisdom Trailer by Robbie Kaye

2010-12-20T17:27:00.001-08:00

Thank you to Michele Little for your contribution to IndieGogo!!!

2010-12-11T09:54:00.000-08:00

Michele,
This quote is for you... and I thank you for all the work that you do to create beauty for all women!

We don't see things as they are, we see things as we are.
-- Anais Nin

Shine on!!!

Robbie

Thank you Connie Kalriess Koprowicz for your contribution to IndiGoGo!!

2010-12-07T12:10:00.000-08:00

This quote is for you Connie!

Beauty is about perception, not about make-up. I think the beginning of all beauty is knowing and liking oneself. You can't put on make-up, or dress yourself, or do your hair with any sort of fun or joy if you're doing it from a position of correction. Kevyn Aucoin

For ageless beauty,

Robbie

New Inspirational Video from Good Morning UniVerse!

2010-11-30T14:36:00.001-08:00

The Good Morning UniVerse! book is here!!

2010-11-20T13:58:00.001-08:00

Thank you to ScanDigital for their award!!

2010-11-16T17:10:00.000-08:00

Good Morning UniVerse! FB Page AND First Edition book is here!!

2010-11-15T13:18:00.001-08:00

http://on.fb.me/aNrB56

Back from New York

2010-10-28T17:04:00.000-07:00

Just got back from New York where I have honor of photographing golden ladies in New York City Salon, Federico's! Amazing and can't wait to share the photos soon.
Meanwhile, Good Morning UniVerse! is taking off and we are getting lots of followers on twitter (MorningUniVerse) and sign ups for Morning Inspiration (www.gmuforyou.com)
So happy to be sharing Debbie Johnson's words and my photographs with everyone.

Bonus for me - I had the chance to photograph Autumn on the east coast... what a dream! Will post some photos soon. I am in computer limbo at the moment as I await my new knight in shining armour --- my computer finally threw in the towel and it is time for a new computer, an essential part of my work!

I look forward to sharing some beautiful images with you. For now, wishing you an Autumn filled with beautiful joy and color!!

Together we can alter the perception of beauty!

2010-10-19T21:46:00.000-07:00

Just one step closer to show how beautiful older woman are! Please help me make it happen by contributing to Every contribution helps so much! Thank you!!

Join Debbie Johnson and me for Good Morning UniVerse!

2010-10-06T00:26:00.001-07:00

Join Debbie Johnson and me for Good Morning UniVerse!

2010-09-29T17:02:00.000-07:00

Thank you James Yates for your contribution on Indie Gogo!!

2010-09-28T22:54:00.000-07:00

Here is a quote just for you! I am so thrilled to share this journey with you!
With gratitude, Robbie

Aging is not "lost youth" but a new stage of opportunity and strength. Betty Friedan

Thank you Aline Smithson for your contribution to Beauty & Wisdom on Indie GoGo!!

2010-09-23T11:05:00.000-07:00

Please visit Aline's website... her work is stunning! http://www.alinesmithson.com/site.html

This quote is for you Aline!

Only as high as I reach can I grow, only as far as I seek can I go, only as deep as I look can I see, only as much as I dream can I be. -Ravn

Your support is immeasurable! Together we soar...

Thank you Stephanie Miller for contributing to Beauty & Wisdom on Indie GoGo!

2010-09-22T15:18:00.000-07:00

This quote is just for you Stephanie. I am so happy to have you be a part of my project! Thank you for helping me take it all the way!! Robbie

To find beauty in everyone you must see beauty in everyone, then announce that you see it, for in announcing it, you place it there in their reality. Neale Donald Walsch

"Super Mum" Marie, 81, Kent, England

2010-09-15T09:00:00.000-07:00

My Mum, Marie Elizabeth Woods, born Kent, England, in 1929. High kicking it as usual.

The first up to dance and the last to sit down - always.

Hobbies include Keep Fit twice a week, Golden Oldies singing club twice a week, and informal chauffeuse to those she calls the ‘old folk’!

Living proof that you are only as old as you feel.

PS. One bionic knee so kicks with her other!!

Aline Smithson and Lenscratch present Beauty & Wisdom!!

2010-09-14T09:29:00.000-07:00

http://lenscratch.blogspot.com/2010/09/robbie-kaye.html

Please check out this amazing post from today that Aline Smithson from Lenscratch produced. I am so honored and excited to share it with you!!

Verlie Boyd, Beauty Queen

2010-09-13T15:01:00.000-07:00

Verlie Circa 1965

Verlie, 18 Years old

Tamera, 2 Years old

My Grandmother, Verlie Maude (Brookes) Boyd, opened her Beauty Shop in 1950. Died in 1984 and had been retired for just a few years. (1908-1984) I handed her pincurls and rollers on weekends over the years (as a child) and actually learned how to cut hair by watching her. I still cut my husbands hair to this day. I cut my son's hair, (21 and 23), until they were in their teens.

My grandmother would put cold cream on her face every evening before bed as a beauty ritual of sorts and I used to watch her in the mirror thinking she was so old and so beautiful and I loved her wrinkles (I think she was about 50 then~~OMG! Hah) I am 53. What I learned from that though, was that self care and appreciating yourself as a woman was not only good for You but for all those around you. -Tamera Boyd Hays

Perks in the mail!

2010-09-10T18:51:00.000-07:00

Today I mailed the perks to 2 contributors. I had so much fun creating the note-cards and burning the CD with music I hope they will enjoy (original!). I so enjoyed the process of saying thank you and giving something in return for their generous donation. All contributions are generous no matter how great or small or if they are about supporting me with energy and love... they all have great value and are part of the journey.

Tomorrow I will be going through more footage from the trip and making notes of which ones might work for the documentary. Can't wait for NY and the ladies there!! Dawling, they are going to be fabulous!!!

The Godfather

2010-09-09T11:37:00.000-07:00

My father's name is SAVINO CAVALLO
Born: March 15, 1918 in Dominican Republic
He migrated to USA and lived in USA for 25 years then returning to his country of origin.
He's 92 right now, retired, widowed. He's outlived all of his family (they were 11 siblings). He's overcome 2 cancers and is still moving along, taking care of his 3 dogs and has his occasional drinks. He still travels to Dom Rep on important occasions. My father's a gentle soul and loved by all who know him.

by Savina Cavallo

Thank you Dave Salter for your generous contribution!!

2010-09-08T14:54:00.000-07:00

A quote for you!

When you are doing anything in a heightened state of realization and prosperity for yourself, you are helping millions of others to shift and to know it as well. Asara Lovejoy

xoxo

Thank you to Margaret Bowen and Dr. Karen Monroy!!

2010-09-08T08:32:00.000-07:00

For you...

"What is this precious love and laughter

Budding in our hearts?

It is the glorious sound

Of a soul waking up!

Hafiz

Thank you both for your generosity and support of Beauty & Wisdom - we are in this together!!

The first contribution to IndieGoGo!!

2010-09-07T15:13:00.000-07:00

Thank you Rita! from PocketPeople for contributing to the progress of "Beauty & Wisdom!"

This quote is just for you!

"I am not afraid...I was born to do this." Joan of Arc

Please visit the PocketPeople on FaceBook!

With love and gratitude,
Robbie

Participate in the Beauty & Wisdom project!

2010-09-06T22:30:00.000-07:00

Please help make it happen!

Click on the above link to find out how you can participate in the Beauty & Wisdom project!

Thank you for all your support!!
Robbie Kaye

Beauty & Wisdom Trailer by Robbie Kaye

2010-09-06T17:12:00.000-07:00

L.A. STORIES featuring the photojournalist Robbie Kaye. Created by Chris...

2010-09-05T14:53:00.000-07:00

Ramona Lupo, Guest post (Daddy Mario)

2010-08-20T15:30:00.000-07:00

Sometime in his 6th year, my father Giovanni came from Sicily to America. Over the sea, in a ship, accompanied by his mother (my Grandmother Stefanina), and his grandmother, (my Great Grandmother Virginina) they entered a foreign land through Ellis Island. Six years earlier, in 1923, his father (my Grandfather Mario, who we grew up calling Daddy Mario) preceeded his wife and infant son, immigrating to America and settled in Chicago. When Daddy Mario left Palermo, he was by trade a barber. The story goes to make extra money, he began cutting hair for his neighbors, including the women, in the one room "apartment" he'd rented in a small suburb outside the city of Chicago. After a variety of odd immigrant jobs, he took a big risk and opened a barber shop. Mind you, this was a rather risky venture for a young man who barely spoke any English and had few contacts in a country and a culture he was struggling to know. But the women were the ones who came for haircuts. They loved Mario, who was a dashing young man, who coiffed and permed and doted on them. By the late 1920's he had saved up enough money to send for his family. Can you imagine spending six years away from your wife and only child? Once again the family was together and Mario's business now thrived as Mario's Beauty Shop. My father, of course grew up, met and married my mother and in the 1940's they moved to southern California to settle and raise their family. Los Angeles was a long way from Chicago, and I don't remember exactly how old I was, probably around 4, when I first met Daddy Mario and Grandma Stefanina, but I grew up hearing the stories of Mario's Shop and all the women who were "in love" with Mario.

In 1962 when I was 10, Grandma Stefanina came by train to visit us in California. It had been many, many years since my father had been back to Chicago, and he decided he would drive Grandma back. I was the youngest of the four Lupo children and the "chosen one" to accompany Dad and Grandma to Chicago. We loaded up the Cadillac and hit the road, back then it was along the infamous Route 66. But the trip could not begin until Grandma had her hair done for the road trip. I remember her putting on her hair net each night as we settled into our hotel room so her hair would look the same in the morning. When we arrived in Oklahoma to visit cousins, the first thing we did was get her to a salon. There, her hair was washed and once again coiffed, and that was how it stayed for the remainder of the trip.

Finally, on a day of thunderstorms and humidity like I had never experienced, we arrived in Chicago. The house on North Nordica Ave was filled with VERY nice things, artwork, glassware, vases, a piano, a large television set, even jewelry and watches, and many other items. It turned out that many of these luxeries were gifts from Daddy Mario's wealthy clients. On my third day in Chicago, Daddy Mario took me to the beauty shop with him, and Oh My God, that was an eye opener. These beautifully cut, dyed and permed women pranced in and out of that salon all day long. I lost track of the number of hugs and kisses, flirtations and gifts that Daddy Mario received throughout the few days I got to spend there with him. I never smelled so much hair spray, perm solution and perfume again in my life!

Daddy Mario outlived Grandma and even outlived his own son, my father. He continued making women beautiful until he was well into his 80's, when he finally sold Mario's to a young gay couple. Many of the women who were his customers in the early years, remained his customers until the day he retired. I'd guess that many of them, even still had the same hair style. When he died at 93, my mother attended his funeral in Chicago. Much to my dismay, I was not able to attend. The end to this story is best conveyed by the number of beautifully cut, dyed and permed women in their 80's that were in attendance at Mario's funeral, most of them in tears throughout. Daddy Mario's wisdom of how to make beauty for who knows how many women in all those years is beyond my comprehension. What I know is that, whatever it was, he had the spirit.

And then there was the time...when he came to visit in California...I was about 7 years old with beautiful long wavy hair, that he CUT...SHORT, when my parents were at work, yikes, he ought not have done that!

Ojai, CA Part 2 of my Personal Retreat

2010-07-07T11:20:00.000-07:00

I arrived in Ojai on Tuesday and check into the Ojai Retreat Bed and Breakfast. After driving up a long road to the top of a hill I found the office, got my key and drove round to the "Oak Room" which is where I stayed. My room had a bed, a little table and chairs, refrigerator and private bath and a bay window that looked out onto the mountains. Outside my room was my own private patio with a table and 4 chairs. That afternoon I met with a yoga instructor, Mihaela, who came to my room to do yoga with me. And there on my patio, I spent two and a half hours learning yoga from this amazing and inspirational woman. I had only done yoga a few times before and had not been able to do any kind of stretching until now, since my back surgery in October. I learned about Yuan Miao and bought the book "Dancing of Rooftops with Dragons, The Yoga of Joy," which I started reading right away. I loved it and it was just what I needed to learn about. On Wednesday morning when I opened the door, I saw a tree, surrounded by the morning mist, mountains in the background and flowers that were pink and purple in the bushes all around my patio. The birds were singing and the air was crisp and fresh. I had slept straight through the night again and felt rested and peaceful when I woke up. I went for a walk down the nature path and onto a meadow and followed the trail around the property... I saw many baby quail and their parents scurrying along the path, chirping and hiding. It was a long walk and it felt good to be by myself in nature, noticing the tiniest little flowers that grow out of the brown dirt, yellow and purple and sometimes red. I heard noises of animals in the brush as they heard me getting close to where they were. Being a former city girl, I became aware of the sounds and cautious as if someone or something might jump out of the bushes and attack me. And when that moment passed, I was back in my country girl skin enjoying the smells of sage and hot pine needles all around me.

It's been a long time coming...

2010-07-05T19:09:00.000-07:00

I've been out of touch.... literally. Not just with my blog, but with myself. I needed to take some time to be still, quiet and just listen... to nature, to the wind, to myself. So I took a 5 day personal retreat and started it off by driving down to San Diego to see the amazing Claire Cook, best-selling author give a talk as her newest book, "Seven Year Switch" was just released and is now in book stores everywhere! I met another twitter friend/author, Dawn Maria, before the talk and had a fantastic dinner. I stayed in San Diego for 2 days, thanks to a generous friend who gave me points to stay at the Sheraton down there. I pampered myself with a massage and sat by the pool reading Claire's book and eating caesar salad and herbal iced tea. I went to sleep early, never turned on the television and slept straight through to the morning...something I hadn't done in - I don't know how long! Wow.. it was amazing...I felt so rejuvenated just by getting that kind of sleep.
I'll share more about my "retreat" and photos too - soon... just wanted to touch base and let you know I'm still here... just working on the "engine" to keep the machine running. Hope you are too!

What's YOUR Seven Year Switch? http://bit.ly/bYhy1D

Janey Cutler - Still singing - after all these years....

2010-05-11T15:58:00.000-07:00

80 years young and singing like never before!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SrZJexfl94

Check her out, you'll be glad you did!

Beauty of Wisdom article by Fine Art Photographer, Bob Killen

2010-05-05T20:09:00.000-07:00

I am so honored and excited to share this article!

http://bobkillenphotographyblog.com/2010/05/robbie-kaye-beauty-of-wisdom/

Growing Boulder Interview

2010-04-16T09:16:00.000-07:00

I am thrilled to share this link to my interview with Katy Widrick from Growing Boulder, a fantastic organization who supports that age is all about attitude and beauty is timeless.
http://growingbolder.com/media/gb-exclusives/webchats/gb-webchat-robbie-kaye-616416.html

Please take the time to peruse their website - there are so many amazing videos there!!
Shine on!
Robbie

The Amara Rose Interviews - Feminine Wisdom

2010-04-08T09:28:00.000-07:00

Here is a link to an article, "Feminine Wisdom." written by Amara Rose. It is so poignant and wonderful I whole-heartedly recommend it and while you are there, visit her website - it is a treasure trove of inspiration.

http://www.liveyourlight.com/mind/Feminine.html

In this article she interviews a woman who at the age of 101, still runs her household with minimal help.

As a "midwife for the soul," Amara Rose offers life purpose coaching, talks, tapes/CDs, e-courses, playshops, retreats, and a FREE inspirational monthly newsletter, "What Shines." Please visit LiveYourLight.com to learn more. Contact Amara at amara@liveyourlight.com, or call: 1-800-862-0157 within the USA.

(Photo by: Robbie Kaye 2009 - "Florette" Marina Del Rey, CA)

Embracing Maturity

2010-04-01T16:30:00.000-07:00

This is an amazing piece of writing about embracing maturity by a woman who contributes her talents to reminding women that they are beautiful at any age. Thank you so much June!

Embracing Maturity

As a woman approaching her mid-fifties and living in a society where there is huge pressure placed on looking good, I have now come to realise beauty and the definition surrounding it, is not all about looking ten years younger than your actual age or turning heads in the street. That is not to say that like other woman of my age, I am of course, concerned about my body visibly deteriorating and getting older but I firmly believe that we should embrace maturity and learn to work with and enhance what we already have.

We always tend to focus on our imperfections and fail to realise that other people never actually see us how we see ourselves. Therefore if we do want to change our appearance in any way be it with diet, exercise or even cosmetic procedures, we should always do it for ourselves and never for someone else. It would not be right (and is probably impossible!) to have reached your mid-fifties and not have any wrinkles; in fact every wrinkle tells a story about the laughter and the tears that has made you the person that you are today and is merely a physical and positive sign of what life is all about.

Don’t wake up in the morning and think ' I'm getting old'. With determination, you can embrace your increasing maturity and learn to enhance yourself and your self esteem. With the ability to love the fact that you are maturing woman, you can be full of vitality and life. The simple and honest fact is that there will never be a magic formula to physically turn back the clock. Look at what you like about yourself and focus on that, try to be positive about life because inner peace and being positive works wonders on your physical appearance and will make far more difference than any expensive potion in a jar. Regardless of age, if you are happy and have a positive outlook, it will always show on the outside. Try to change things that make you unhappy - at our age we know we need to invest time in looking and feeling the best we can, and if you look your best, that in turn gives you confidence. Beauty is not about being glamorous, but really does come from within and if you are happy with yourself then you will sparkle and your attitude will change - happiness is infectious and if you walk down the street full of inner confidence others will be sure to notice too!

Being middle aged does not mean dressing dowdy or giving up on being stylish. If we look at women in their fifties today, we are so different from our Mother's time - I could never have imagined my Mum wearing jeans! Our daughters now ask to borrow our clothes and makeup and there has never been a better time to be middle aged. This is now the time we can truly focus on ourselves. We’ve brought up our children and worked hard and now it’s time to be a little selfish! Make the best of yourself, embrace everyday and you will find that everyday will embrace you!

My make-up, beauty, and styling videos for mature women over 50 can be found at http://www.youtube.com/user/june9097

Rita, Memphis, TN

2010-03-21T16:39:00.000-07:00

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

2010-03-06T09:39:00.001-08:00

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

2010-03-04T13:16:00.000-08:00

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

My Mother's Secret

2010-02-22T19:57:00.000-08:00

My friend and mentor, Debbie Johnson, wrote this for her mom, Aliene, who just turned 79 yesterday.

My Mother’s Little Secret

I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror

And the reflection took me by surprise.

There was no mistaking what I saw,

Those were my Mother’s eyes.

I’d looked in them through out my life

And know them very well.

They are full of love and guidance.

What stories they can tell.

I saw the lines around my mouth.

Had they been there before?

If it’s a smile that makes each one,

I’ll take a whole lot more.

You see I’m not afraid of growing older.

It’s part of life, just one of those things.

And my Mother has shown me the beauty and grace

That each passing year still brings.

She’s taught me many lessons,

Her example has shown the way.

Love deeply and do things for others,

And count your blessings every day.

There’s no such thing as too many diamonds,

Too much food or too much fun!

It’s each experience that makes a life well lived,

And thanking God for each and every one.

I learned that singing makes any job go better,

And that baking is good for the soul.

A homemade gift prepared with love

Makes tummies and hearts feel full.

That life is like a casino.

Sometimes you lose and sometimes you win.

But as long as you keep on playing,

It pays off again and again.

I learned to love very deeply,

And feel the pride that only a mother can feel.

To not worry about problems that many never come,

But instead focus here on what’s real.

Sometimes we are taken for granted.

Meals, laundry, cleaning and more.

It’s not that we aren’t important.

It’s just what mothers are for.

Life is truly what you make it,

And my Mother has shown me the way.

That real beauty comes from the inside,

And the years can’t take it away.

In fact living just adds to the beauty,

Just look at my Mother and see.

The years have been very good to her,

And I know they’ll be good to me.

So as I look in the mirror,

And see my Mother’s smile.

I share her little secret

On how to age in style.

It isn’t a cream or a lotion,

In fact there’s no price you can pay.

Simply fill your heart full of love,

And give it all away.

It comes back to you like magic,

Lifting faces and taking wrinkles away.

Just take a look at my Mother,

She’s more beautiful with each passing day.

So as I fill my heart with love,

I see the lines that living can bring.

I remember mom’s little secret

And I’m not worried about a thing.

http://www.guidedabundance.com/

Jenny #2, Santa Monica, CA

2010-02-18T12:55:00.000-08:00

Please visit the new video on YouTube and meet Jenny from The Beauty of Wisdom collection.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yp-Pup6neQU

Aggie, 87. Memphis, TN

2010-02-13T17:19:00.000-08:00

Aggie is cool, calm and collected. She wore a yellow thin sweater with a beautiful large gold cross necklace. Sophistication fell off her soft, southern drawl as she spoke about Gene's harmonica playing or jewelry that he made. Agnes has been going to Gene for 40 years.

Here is a comment from Eileen in regard to the weekly beauty parlor ritual. She wrote it on the "Imperfect Women" interview and I thought it was so poignant, I wanted to share it with you:

"... in the midst of real heartaches that women are experiencing (I hear other customers talk of divorce, cancer, death, etc.) these women are still validating life and doing something positive for themselves, and it’s so true that no matter what is going on in their lives, if they can get to that appointment, all is not lost.
-Eileen

Thank you Eileen!

Mrs. Guste, from "Robbie's Story" on Rebecca Elia's Website

2010-02-10T09:17:00.000-08:00

http://rebeccaelia.weebly.com/1/post/2010/02/robbies-story.html

Please read "Robbie's Story" at Dr. Rebecca Elia's website above

Elizabeth, Brantley, AL

2010-02-08T10:14:00.000-08:00

Elizabeth, 89, is the teacher of Sheila, her hairstylist, Shelia's mother, and Shelia's daughter. Three generations of women. She is the sweetest southern woman I ever did meet...soft spoken and wise. She has been working with Sheila for 40 years.

Pauline, Conroe, TX

2010-02-03T10:08:00.000-08:00

Look at that smile and that pure white snowy hair! Pauline recently had a new pacemaker replaced and was in pain, but you would never know it. It was like she was visiting a family member as she told Kathie, her hairstylist, all about the procedure and you could see her pain falling away as she and Kathie engaged in conversation. Pauline and I chatted a bit while she was waiting to get her hair done...and she leaned over to me and in her sweet southern accent asked, "so what do you think about your First Lady gardening in high heels?" I love southern women!

Timeless Beauty-Guest Post by Rebecca Elia

2010-02-01T16:13:00.000-08:00

I am so happy to have found Rebecca Elia on Twitter and so excited to post her words and thoughts on Timeless Beauty on my blog. Please visit her website and the links she has generously provided.

Timeless Beauty
Once again, I am thankful to Twitter for connecting me with like-minded people. More and more women are exploring our society’s refusal to accept death and aging, and, lately, they’ve been tweeting about it. Elissa Stein, author of FLOW is working on her next book project, Wrinkle and her recent Huffington Post piece, The Age of Invisibility, was about our mistreatment of the elderly. Through twitter, I also learned of Robbie Kaye’s work.

It’s time to address this peculiar societal dysfunction.
In the not so distant past, the anorexic teenager was our society’s single representation of beauty. The Twiggy template lived on, decades beyond her actual owner. Dove’s relatively recent campaign was one of the first to use normal-looking normal-sized women models. Their famous Evolution video revealed the false representation of the final icon of a female model that appeared on a billboard. By the time the initial picture was adjusted, it was so far removed from the original that it was difficult to connect the two. Our sense of beauty, both outer and inner, has become unbelievably warped.
It took my traveling to Greece to become aware of just how culture-specific beauty is. I was relieved when I discovered that the Greeks were blind to the dark hair on my body that was deemed socially-unacceptable in the U.S. I was thrilled that women who we would consider overweight showed no hesitation in wearing tight clothes in public or bikinis on the beach.
But there was another difference, and this one had more to do with inner beauty. In Greece, the elderly were cared for, honored, and respected by their families. Often, these elderly women provided the structure and foundation for the family. Many of my Greek friends were raised by their yiayias (grandmothers). Because the Greeks are a very social people, I had more conversations with elderly women there than I did with one of my own grandmothers. I could not return to my apartment without talking with a yiayia who lived in my neighborhood. She would pull out a seat cushion and rush to make Greek coffee when she saw me approaching her marble steps. In fact, I had to add an extra thirty to sixty minutes to my trip home if I didn’t return during her afternoon nap.
These grandmothers not only shared their life wisdom with me but provided me with such a strong sense of family and stability that it eased the 6,000+ mile distance from my real family. Looking at the world through their eyes provided me with an immediate sense of what is truly important. Linear time disappeared. Relationships and relating became crucial. It was clear that what we do is not as essential as how we do it, and that those we love are more important than anything else in this world. The emphasis on artificial physical beauty disappeared in a land where nothing could be more gorgeous than the dramatic scenery, weathered by the same natural elements that wrinkled the lovely faces of the elderly.
I became aware of another striking difference. These Greek women lived each day in the present moment, just as children do. In fact, they lived their entire lives in this way. This was a country in which the natural cycles of life were recognized and death was accepted along with life. The Greeks understood that in order for anything new to be created, the old must dissolve. They remembered what we have forgotten, that unrestricted growth is unsustainable and undesirable.
Both of my biological grandmothers died long ago. Now, more than ever, I absorb my mother’s memories of her mother and her mother’s generation. Not wanting to miss any of their wisdom, I grab hold before it disappears forever. By forgetting her, I lose. By forgetting them, we all lose.
Ours is a young nation. How can we expect to mature without the wisdom of our elders? We are quickly destroying our earth and ourselves. The longer we hold onto this notion of unrestricted growth, the more we destroy. When will we, as a nation, begin to face our fears about aging and death and, instead, honor the hard-earned wisdom of our elders? When will we see their true beauty? Until we do, we will remain blind to our own.

Bio:
Rebecca Elia is a Holistic Gynecologist who is more interested in creating health than in curing disease. Her forthcoming book, Creating Feminine Health, Finding Balance in a Masculine World addresses the consequences of valuing masculine qualities over feminine ones, including our society’s difficulty in accepting, let alone honoring, aging and elder wisdom.
Website: www.rebeccaelia.com You may sign up for her free Creating Feminine Health Newsletter on the homepage of her website.
Blog: www.rebeccaeliablog.blogspot.com
Links in Post:
Elissa Stein’s blog: http://elissastein.blogspot.com/
Elissa’s Huff Po post: The Age of Invisibility http://www.huffingtonpost.com/elissa-stein/the-age-of-invisibility_b_400896.html
Dove’s Evolution video: http://rebeccaeliablog.blogspot.com/2009/08/evolution-courtesy-of-dove_16.html

Marilyn & Eunice, Memphis, TN

2010-01-25T11:51:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-21T09:10:00.001-08:00

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

2010-01-18T09:19:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-15T23:32:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-13T20:13:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-12T10:27:00.001-08:00

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

2010-01-07T08:43:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-05T13:08:00.000-08:00

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.

Vera & Paula, Conroe, TX

2009-12-23T06:55:00.000-08:00

In my travels, I discovered the apparent connectedness shared not only between client and hairstylist but also between all women in the salon, like here at Kathie's in Conroe Texas. In Dr. Joyce Nelson Patenaude's book, "Too Tired To Keep Running, Too Scared To Stop" she shares a story that was told to her by a friend, "In Africa, the women of the village would walk a mile to the river and back everyday to retrieve water. The women would carry heavy vessels on the heads to transport the water. On day, the Peace Corps came to this village. The first thing the workers did was to dig a well o relieve the women's burden of carrying heavy vessels over such a long distance. Everyone rejoiced. But soon the women ignored the well and began once more to walk the mile to the river. The fulfillment of their connectedness with one another is what the women needed and missed." The women needed to feel that connected and one way these ageless women do that is by going to the salon once a week, to make that connection, one that is not replaceable by anything else.

The International Aperture Awards

2009-12-15T15:52:00.000-08:00

The International Aperture Awards

Ruby, Eunice, Robbie - Memphis, TN

2009-12-15T10:16:00.000-08:00

This summer on the road, I had the privilege of traveling with my step-daughter, friend and talented videographer, Ruby. Here we are standing with Eunice at Gould's Salon in Memphis, TN. Eunice was one of the many amazing women we encountered on our journey. I told you a bit about her before, but there is so much more to tell. She has been in business for 54 years, starting as an assistant and working her way up to hairstylist and colorist. Her spirit will light you up and you will want to be in her presence for any reason, and her clients are loyal and committed to their relationship with her. One client even gave her their car when they were moving and Eunice receives many gifts. She gives many gifts as well, as her clients will tell you. Here's a woman who continues to do what she so loves when she could easily retire. This woman is a true inspiration.

Lillian, Houston, TX

2009-12-10T15:34:00.000-08:00

To start my travels off, I drove to Houston, where I photographed Hari who is the hairstylist for her mom, Lillian. They were so cute together and Lillian's warmth touched me in a way that was reminiscent of my own family...like getting a big hug from one of my great aunts at a Bar Mitzvah. Lillian has red hair and gets it styled in a current fashion. I loved her white mules and hip manner... Her husband, a war veteran, accompanies her to her weekly hair appointment. In her eighties, this woman is anything but old.

Gene Finney, Memphis, TN

2009-12-02T10:53:00.000-08:00

Gene is an 81 yr old hair-stylist at Gould's in Memphis, TN. He serenades his clients, as he does here serenading me, with his harmonica playing and keeps his recorded music close by as well as the jewelry he makes. He has worked here for 55 years. He adores his clients and it's obvious that they adore him too.

Venus, Marina Del Rey, CA

2009-11-30T11:35:00.000-08:00

Venus reminds me of a soldier, a proud soldier...maybe it's the buttons on her shoulder and her posture. I wonder what it would be like if all women were this proud at her age, no self-consciousness...just right there....here I am. Such a fantastic role model.

Southern Ladies #2 - Brantley, Alabama

2009-11-24T09:42:00.000-08:00

I have never seen such camaraderie as I have at Sheila's in Brantley, Alabama. Madeleine brought flowers and later swept the floor, Suzie brought blueberries and Juanita folded hair towels while she was under the dryer. These "real" steel magnolias were so kind and they connected with each other and helped Sheila in her salon located at her house in this rural place in Alabama. Ruby and I followed directions that read like this, "right at church" "left at farm" - and somehow we found this wonderful house of amazing ladies.

Patti & Florette, California

2009-11-16T13:00:00.000-08:00

A place for women to connect, to talk, to share joys, tragedies and everything from the color of paint for their house to how they are getting through the loss of their spouse. They count on seeing each other the same time every week and that's a good feeling...to spend time with "sisters" and shoot the breeze or tell a joke. In our generation now, we do our own hair mostly, and go to the salon periodically, not every week. I see my hairstylist about every 3 months and when I do, we talk and pick up where we left off...so I can imagine the intimacy shared by going once a week.

Eunice, Memphis, TN

2009-11-10T12:09:00.000-08:00

Eunice is 75 years old and has been a hairstylist in Memphis for 54 years at Gould's Salon. She has seen times and techniques change more than anybody I have interviewed. I don't doubt that someday she will have a book written about her life and I hope to be part of that process someday. She is a character, and I mean that in a loving way, a woman with character that consists of love and ethics and patience and faith. I can't wait to share the video footage of Eunice, but for now, I hope you can look into her eyes in this photo and see how immensely full they are of stories and experience.

Mrs. Guste, New Orleans, LA

2009-11-09T13:30:00.000-08:00

Mrs. Guste lost a lot in Katrina, but in so many ways, she didn't lose a thing...not her humor, not her gratitude, not her steadfast belief that everything is borrowed and when it leaves, it's time to give it back. She did not let me take her photo while under the dryer, but when she was almost done getting her hair styled, and afterwards, wow...she was a natural model, she had so much pizazz and style!!

Elizabeth, Brantley, AL

2009-11-04T11:29:00.000-08:00

Elizabeth is a teacher who taught Sheila (her hair-stylist), Sheila's mom and Sheila's daughter. Three generations, one teacher...pretty amazing. Elizabeth's hair is like freshly fallen snow, soft, full and full of wonder. She is one of the "Southern Ladies" group in Alabama and a real Steel Magnolia.

Nancy, Santa Monica, CA

2009-10-29T12:21:00.000-07:00

Nancy, in her early 70's had shining blue eyes and white curly hair. She is dedicated to her day at the beauty parlor. She arrives at The Cut Salon in Santa Monica in a wheel chair, has her hair washed and then she returns to her wheelchair to have her hair styled. Isn't her smile fabulous?

Mona Lisa, Memphis, TN

2009-10-28T11:13:00.000-07:00

Mona is Rose's hair-stylist. Rose was Mona's school teacher. There was no shortage of laughs in this salon and no shortage of genuine caring about each other as well.

Vera, Conroe, Texas

2009-10-27T15:45:00.001-07:00

Vera is another of Kathie's clients in Conroe, Texas. She recently had surgery on her head and Kathie created a hair piece, dyed to match Vera's hair, that concealed the part of her head that was shaved. Look at her red hair...it doesn't get more beautiful than that. They have been through a lot together and the love and caring is so present.

Southern Ladies #1 - Brantley, Alabama

2009-10-25T12:59:00.000-07:00

This is a typical work day for Sheila in Brantley, Alabama. Madeleine brings flowers, another client brings blueberries and Ms. Elizabeth , who is being helped from her chair taught 3 generations in Sheila's family. I felt like I was on the set of "Steel Magnolias" only this was real life and the women were not actors, but beautiful beings who connected here at Sheila's and talked about the pastor and church and recipes and weddings and ...life in the South.

Virginia, New Orleans, LA

2009-10-23T08:30:00.000-07:00

Almost 90, this amazing woman is sharp and sweet and as you can see, elegant. Her hairstylist, MaryJane at Dante Salon in New Orleans, is an artist, a sculptor of a fading art.

Pearl, Long Island, NY

2009-10-22T10:02:00.000-07:00

Pearl, who reminded me of one of my great aunts, the kind you run into at Bar Mitzvahs, asked, "are you going to follow me to the bathroom and take pictures of my tuchas" (which is yiddish for - derrier - which is french for, well you get the picture). She definitely had chutzpah and I would bet that she brings her family much joy, happiness and a ton of laughter.

Carmen, Santa Fe, NM

2009-10-20T10:30:00.000-07:00

Carmen was at Holiday Salon in Santa Fe, getting ready for her 91st birthday. Sharp and elegant, she told us how she used to ride motorcycles with her husband. Carmen has been seeing her hairstylist, Linda, for 44 years. If you look at her face closely, you will see a life full of experience and knowing that we will only know, when we are her age.

Blossom, Long Island, NY

2009-10-18T09:00:00.000-07:00

Still working in her seventies, Blossom turned out to be a women who worked at my junior high about the time when I was there. She was impeccably dressed, as most of the women I photograph at their weekly ritual are. Not like me, who shows up in sweats and a t-shirt, looking like a shlub...but like Blossom, I have a great friend in my hairstylist too.

Jane, Conroe, TX

2009-10-17T09:14:00.000-07:00

Jane, a mother, grandmother, avid tennis player and so much more, left this physical plane just last week. She was the reason I went to Conroe, Texas, to photograph her. She had the most amazing smile and hair as you can see....white-like feathers that surrounded her gorgeous face and eyes. I am grateful to have been able to give her family photographs of this beautiful woman. Kathy her hairstylist was so caring, I know she will feel the loss of her client and good friend.

Rose

2009-10-15T09:47:00.000-07:00

Rose was the teacher of Mona, now her hairstylist and she said, "I always knew Mona was smart and had something special." They're joking and laughing was contagious. Mona's salon is called 'Mona Lisa' in Memphis, TN. Rose, now retired, gets her hair done after her swimming exercise in the morning. Such a pretty lady.

Gene & Gladys, Memphis, TN

2009-10-14T15:08:00.000-07:00

Gene Finney from Memphis, TN, in his seventies himself, is still a Don Juan with the ladies. Gladys asks Gene where he's been playing his harmonica - he's in a band and I was fortunate enough to get a first hand performance. His fingers are taped together because he has no feeling in one of them. Gene has been working with Gould's Salon for over 40 years, meeting and greeting his clients with kisses and hugs and coffee. When I asked Gene what his favorite part of his job was, he said, "Seeing the women smile when I'm done and feeling good about themselves...and the kisses!"

Doris, New York

2009-10-13T09:07:00.000-07:00

Doris has been going to the beauty parlor for over 50 years. She used to have a bee hive hairstyle in the late sixties and a "fall" and "flip" in the seventies. She brings gifts to "the girls" at the salon and they are happy to see her when she walks in the door at Georgette's in Long Island, New York, where the hairstylists have the most beautiful, longest nails I've ever seen. She loves the ritual of getting her hair done. I should know, she's my mom!