The Past Stays Here

Tag: writing

  • Professional Growth

    I have a headache today. It’s the formaldehyde that seeped into my personal hair room in the salon I now work out of. The industry is filling shelves with new products that avoid the toxic label, yet when heated to a certain temp they omit formaldehyde.

    Instant headache. That’s the first reaction. Dizzy, nausea, ear pain so intense it feels as though I have an ear infection. Throbbing. Throat scratchy. But that’s not the worst part. Fuzz. My mental state slows down. I can barely comprehend what my client is saying. Barely see what I am doing. Good thing I can do a haircut by feel, I’ve been doing it so long.

    I can’t share my challenge but I warn you it’s exciting! Now in the works. At the moment I can only spread the word. I’d love a chemist to help. I use how I feel as my guide and do my research. Wow Dream Coat is said to have removed DMDM Hydantoin which turns to formaldehyde yet I still have this severe reaction to that product and to a few other smoothing products. Glad I like my frizz.

  • Gold Dust Women

    Almost 30 years ago, when I packed my newly leased Jetta with tent equipment and girl power, I failed to recognize the impact of the adventure.

    The idea to settle in San Diego blew to dust with the wind as the funnel of female power grew stronger. I discovered what I did not want; to live on sandy, hippie beaches, bland Texas highways, and don’t make me say it… Taco Bell, nacho supreme on a taco shell ( sing song, drunk passengers made for a good laugh with that jingle ).

    I did discover: a preference for divey LA bars over posh, see and be seen night clubs, swampy New Orleans humidity, and the scent of pine while driving Route 5 to Portland, Oregon.

    With the evergreens trailing my tail pipes, I managed, one year shy of 30 later, to find my way back to this favored spot of all.

    And somehow, manifestation aside, it happened upon me, now adulting and over 50, grateful for the situationship placing it in my lap.

    Mer