Tag Archives: cancer

A Tangled Mess No More!

Posted on by Run DMT
16

When my girls are due for a trim, Allana always begs me to take her to Sweet & Sassy for her haircut.  I adore the whole Sweet & Sassy glittery pampering experience as much as my girls, but on a tight SAHMom-on-the-run race budget, princess haircuts at Sweet & Sassy simply are not financially feasible for two girls even with discounts or specials.

 

But when I got wind of Sweet & Sassy’s Tangled haircut promotion for the release of the Tangled DVD, I rushed the girls right into the salon.  Any girl who donated 10” of hair to Locks of Love would receive a free haircut and style.   BUT, would my girls be willing to donate 10” of their beautiful curls for a good cause and a free haircut?

 

Even if my girls weren’t willing to donate their hair, I decided to still bring them into the salon to take advantage of the “buy one haircut, get a second haircut 50% off” deal and all the Tangled fun Sweet & Sassy was offering.

 

So when I picked them up from school and informed the girls about Sweet & Sassy’s Tangled event, Allana agreed to do it.  Her exact words were, “Sure.  I’ll do it. Wait.  How short will my hair be?”  Emmalynn wasn’t quite so willing at first.

 

Using a tape measure, I showed the girls the length of 10”of hair and approximately how much hair would be left after the cut.  Allana still agreed to do it.  Once Emmalynn saw the length in the mirror, she was ready to do it.  Her exact words were, “Oh!  That will look so cute!”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And boy did those girls ever look so cute with their new dos!  Later that evening, Allana told me she donated her hair in memory of Aunt June.  Her unexpected, unprompted gesture caught me off guard and really choked me up.

 

 

 

I am so proud of my beautiful girls and their generosity.

 

 

The Gallery: Every WednesdayPhotoStory Friday

 

In Loving Memory of My Aunt June

Posted on by Run DMT
10

As far back as I can remember, my Aunt June played an important part in my life.  We spent many holidays at her home where I ate several helpings of her homemade lemon meringue pie and Strufoli (Italian honey balls covered in rainbow sprinkles).

 

Growing up, Aunt June came to every recital and school play.  As my sister and I grew older, she was present at our graduations and weddings.  Then when my children came along, she was there to celebrate their births, christenings and recitals too.

 

 

Aunt June, a beautiful and tough woman, had a hard life raising five children and caring for a husband with MS.  But somehow in the midst of it all, she started a hair salon out of her home.  As her business grew, she moved her salon out of her garage, found an office space and a new home for her salon appropriately named June’s Beauty Salon.  Then a few years later, she opened a second salon while working nights as a cleaning lady to put her youngest son through college.  She never saw it as a sacrifice, but simply a new challenge for the well-being of her family.

 

A true woman of strength and courage, Aunt June repeatedly tried new endeavors.  She studied and trained to become a travel agent and then an LPN.  As the years passed, her health declined due to years of smoking and she began losing her hair.  What seemed like unfortunate situation had a positive outcome as it led her down a path where she found a new niche and opened a wig shop.

 

As a child, I spent countless hours spinning in her hairdresser chairs until I became dizzy.  As a teen, I would look for any excuse to drive my car.  I would soon find myself at her hair salon because I was in the neighborhood, but really I loved visiting with her.

 

When I told my daughters that Aunt June was dying of cancer, Allana remembered her great aunt with the her fiery red hair and her wig shop, particularly the hot pink wigs on display.  When I remember my Aunt June, I will also remember her for her fiery red hair and a feisty wit and will to match.

 

 

September 5, 1939 – September 10, 2010