Mara climbed out of her car and blinked up at the powder blue sky. A gorgeous September day. She almost wished she didn’t have to go into the salon to get her hair done.
She shrugged; at least she enjoyed the company of the people there. The old fashioned, independent boutique had their regulars, and everyone knew each other. Even the door clanged with a bell when she 
entered.
“Hi, Mara.” Her stylist waved as she swept up her station. “I’ll be right with you.”
“No problem.” Mara stood near the checkout counter where a gray-haired woman was paying for services. She looked familiar from behind, and then when she spoke, Mara recognized her cousin. “Hello, Gloria. How are you?”
Gloria pivoted slowly, a scowl on her face, eyes squinted, and then she turned right back around toward the cashier without a word.
“Gloria? What’s the matter?” Deep down Mara knew. She didn’t mean to hurt her cousin’s feelings. She had apologized profusely, and Gloria said she accepted her apology. “You’re not going to talk to me anymore?”
With her back to Mara, Gloria spat, “No, I’m not.” She finished paying the cashier and stamped out the door.
Continue reading “It Happened at the Beauty Salon”
We finally had a party on our new patio. Above, I’ve covered faces for anonymity. Over to the right, they were starting a fire in our firepit table for roasting marshmallows. I got good reviews about the party afterward. It was heavenly and unifying to bring together family with old friends. I, umm…ahem, got a little tipsy, but at least I didn’t have to drive (I paid for it the next day). 
I originally wanted to start by writing that the summer is half over, but instead I decided it’s still half full. Right?
How many people do you know that are able to humble themselves enough to admit when they’re wrong?
Whatever you do may seem insignificant but it is important that you do it. ~ Mahatma Gandhi
So, I was minding my own business walking the dog. The weather was cold, but not frigid, and dusk would soon give way to the super moon. I’ve never walked Max while listening to music or on the phone, because I believe it’s important to pay attention to the dog and my surroundings. On this particular day, I needed to make an important call. I wore earbuds and was on the phone while maintaining a moderate, steady pace. A man pulled up beside me and rolled down his window.