Last week, I had bought some things in Scappoose that needed to be returned … so, I decided to return those things this morning 😉
I hit the road bright and early, because rain was in the forecast for some time around noon – the gray clouds over both states gave credibility to the forecast.
After I had returned the unusable items/replaced them with usable replacements, I turned the car towards home.
But my attention was snagged as I passed through St. Helens, and saw a sidewalk sandwich board set up by Great Clips Hair Salon, reading ‘Walk-ins Accepted”.
My hair has been looking a little shaggy, so, I made the turn into the parking lot; and walked in.
The girl told me that “Yes, we are accepting walk in’s … but, there is a 2½ hour wait.”
I just looked at her for about 5 seconds, before saying, “Your sandwich board is advertising that you are seeking walk-ins: a two and a half wait is not {walk in} business.”
She said, “Well, we do accept walk ins, but online appointments are preferred – and there are a few before you.”
That remark earned her another 5 second look. If they prefer online appointments, what is the point of sidewalk advertising?
But I was there, determining to live ‘in the moment’; and I had no where in particular to be: not then … not 2½ hours from then.
So, I took a seat and waited.
And got up occasionally to walk around and look at the various hair products for sale – which, no doubt is the real purpose behind the waiting: kinda like stores that put their ‘attention snagging-sure sale’ items at the checkout conveyor belts.
And bought a frizz controlling hair product, similar to the Hair Glass hair product of the 1980’s: I like it, and haven’t seen it anywhere else. I was thankful then, that I had decided to wait – and that my attention had been snagged 😉
When it was finally my turn, I told the girl what I wanted … and she gave me a 5 second look: she had no idea what I was talking about. I’ve been getting that look a lot from hair salon employees that were born in the 1990’s. So; realizing I would never get a decent shag cut ever again, as the hairdresser’s get younger and younger, I told her to just trim it so it will eventually all be one length, with layering at the crown, and feathering around my face, with bangs.
That she understood.
She cut off an inch and a half: by mid-Summer, when I trim ends again, my hair length should be equal all around; falling nicely down my back – except for the crown layering.
And, honestly, that will work better for me when I am hiking, or working outside in my garden … I can pull it back in a small, smooth bun.
When I reached home and brought everything into the house, from the car, I looked at my little {haul}, and thought ow much things had changed in 27 months; and at how much the home Bob and I had bought together (and enjoyed together for only 18 months), was morphing so completely into my own domain.
These things I ferried home, aren’t that much – but they are important to finishing up the setting up of the setting up of our home before that got rudely/sadly interrupted 31 months ago.
The dish drainer, clothespins, and lint rollers would have been bought eventually.
The shoes holder, and the smaller compact shelving; not.
There wouldn’t have been all this extra closet space if Bob were still here, in the flesh: his clothing would have taken up half the closet that only holds my clothing now – there would not have been room for the shoe holder; our shoes would have littered the closet floor … now the closet has been totally reorganized; and there is room for the shoe holder.
And the empty closet in the spare bedroom – where the shelving will be set up/installed, used to be filled with our 5 year-old grandson’s things. But now, that closet is empty (for the time being), the bed is covered with a plastic sheet; and the room that used to ring with laughter, and chirpy chatter, now echoes with silence. The bed is no longer needed, and the closet will morph into a spare pantry.
I, and only I, live in this house now.
It is starting to become my own private domain.
I don’t like that fact: I am adjusting to that reality.
I put my purchases away, and got busy making Supper.
I had thought about buying a Subway sandwich when I passed through Scappoose on my way home – but, I am determined to shear 20/25 pounds off this year, to give my aging and aching joints some relief.
So …
I got busy in the kitchen 😊
Supper only took half an hour from skillet to table:
The forecasted rain arrived as I was washing up the dishes.
I couldn’t help thinking how the falling rain {fit} the Holy Week festivities.