Seven or eight ladies will gather around my table with an announcement that they have just entered “Bon Bon’s Beauty Salon”. What happens in the salon stays in the salon! They laugh at the thought of having anything risqué to say. With each customer I ask things like, “Do you come here often?’ or “Stiletto, coffin, or regular?” Thank goodness for smart phones and Pinterest where I can show them exactly what I mean. We talk about our children and grandchildren, but never about men. “Men, schmen!”, I say. “No boys allowed!” They laugh because they remember feeling like that a time or two. We all know I’m kidding. We all loved our men.
Today, I sat with a new resident who is just a little older than me. She told me a little about her life and some of the hardships that she’s faced. When she mentioned missing her husband she began to cry. My heart stung because the loss is familiar. In that moment, I became more than an employee or a manicurist, I became her friend. The ladies are always required to pay me for their manicure… with a hug! My new friend got a long hug today and I whispered that I’ll be praying for her and if she needs to talk, I’m right here. I love giving the ladies manicures at Community Village.
Contributed by Bonnie Rowley, Activities Director
