Hair Today Gone Tomorrow
I had a niggardly day today. There. I've said it. A niggardly day.
... Gee... No wonder people get fired for using "niggardly". It even looks racist on the page.
Anyway, speaking of getting fired, I really was hoping I would be today. I mean, I should quit - the pay sucks, the work sucks, but as you can plainly see - I usually have a lot of free time to do other things.
And since I'm trying to write a book (of short stories) I appreciate the free time at work because I really don't have any at home. Home involves stuff to do that is practical and nurturing. When it doesn't involve just hanging out doing nothing.
It probably isn't in my best interests to get fired. Still, it would be change. And change is good. Or, at least, it's change.
But quitting a job requires a fair degree of gumption, doesn't it? I mean, we've been taught to look askance at job quitters, and yet - why? What's so great about just having a job that if it isn't what you want to be doing you shouldn't move on to something else when the mood strikes? One of the things I dislike about us as a country these days is that we eliminated the right to quit from eligibility for Employment Insurance a few years back. I thought that was a majorly regressive step back - especially since we've been subject to non-stop bragging by successive Federal governments since about the huge E.I. surplus its always holding back from us. Why, I have no idea. Either give it back or shut up about it, I say.
Anyway, I had one of those shitty little days that just made me want to quit my job and go do something I'm good at. I know, I know - but what, Sooey? But I'm particularly NOT good at my job. It's a secretarial position and, honestly, I hate that stuff. My own life is lived so ridiculously simply to avoid complications of any form, filing, or financial kind that it seems unfair that I should have to deal with the complications of someone else's life. Forms, filing, and finances. Talk about "F" words. That's how I make my living, though. Dealing with forms, filing, and finances - for someone else.
But I didn't get fired and I didn't quit. I did the job and left for home - a few minutes early. On the way, I decided to get my hair cut. For the past while I've been pondering this possibility - of getting my hair cut - and today was the day. I walked into a salon and picked up a brochure. It had everything on it except "Cut" so I asked, "Do you do haircuts?" And the bouncy young lady who'd been sweeping up hair leapt over to the counter and said, "Of course. That's what we do first." So I said, "Okay. What does a haircut cost?" She looked me scare in the eye and said, "Well, it depends on experience. I have ten years of professional haircutting experience so I cost $60."
Normally, that's way too steep for me, but I liked her hair and I decided I needed something that was probably worth $60, so I said, "Okay. Can you cut my hair now?"
"Yup."
So I sat in the chair and before I could take out the little picture of a haircut I like that I carry around in my purse she said, "I know exactly what I want to do."
Well, I wasn't going to argue. If SHE knew - who was I to differ? And she started cutting - dry hair. "I always cut hair dry because that way I can see if it's working - if it's what I want the person to have. If it works dry - it works. People can do what they want later with product and blow drying but I like to give a cut I know is good - first."
I couldn't believe it. She had a whole working philosophy about cutting hair - and she had a cool cut herself. That's probably why I ended up having her cut my hair. And as she cut, she talked about how much she loved making people over. "You're perfect because you're like, well, if you went to get your make-up done, the cosmetician would be really excited because you're like a blank slate. It's like that with your hair." And I knew what she meant - it's true. I've even had a cosmetician say that about me being like a blank slate - and she WAS really excited by it. Anyway, she continued on about my jawline, my fine hair, how she wanted to show off my face with the cut.
"You're great looking. This cut is really going to work out for you. I'm so excited." And she meant it. I could tell. And as I watched her cut and watched as the cut began to frame my face, I could see what she meant. "We get the contracts when movies are being done here. I've done lots of B-grade actor hair. You wouldn't believe how much fun it is, hanging out with actors. But it's really about giving a good cut for me. They like you to hang out with them sometimes but then I'm like, okay, hair time. It's my favourite thing to do. Ever since I was a kid I've been going at people's hair with a pair of scissors. They work really hard, too, actors. Lots of them do triple time, like when they aren't doing their bit they're doing some set work or helping out with costumes. Some of them, if they aren't actually in the movie but they've acted before are so keen to stay involved that they'll be getting coffee and stuff on the set - just to be there. It's a pretty cool scene."
Meanwhile, as she cut, I was looking more and more like "Wow". I'm not kidding. Looking in the mirror I went from being dragged down, middle-aged, drab - to sexy hot happening woman about town. When she was done, she said, "Perfect" and spun me around for a shampoo and blow dry. No product, no roller brush. Just a blow dryer and her expert hands manipulating the hair this way and that until, "See? It's a totally different look now and all I did was wash it and blow it dry."
Really. I've never had an experience quite like it. Now I'm almost worried about being fired and not being able to afford the hair cut every couple of months. Just when I was thinking I was ready to pack it in - I've got a new expensive habit to keep up. Such is life, I suppose. But it was worth it just interacting with someone who really likes what she does and is unbelievably good at it. I mean, I hope I didn't contaminate her with my dreariness pre-makeover. Because here I am not just disliking what I do for a living, but honestly - I'm not very good at it, either. In fact, for some reason, I've ended up doing something that sucks and that I suck at doing.
I need a job makeover. Where do I go for that, do you think? I've got the hair, if that helps - thanks to someone who actually cares about what she does to make a living.
