When I was young it was said that I had a lot of body in my hair. It was very thick and my uncle even wrote a poem about a monkey when my mother sent home my newborn photos. I had a head full of thick black hair. As a teenager I got perms because I wanted the curls not just the waves. Gave up on that quick enough and just went around with a ponytail. Once right after getting married I got a boy-cut, was tired of my hair getting in the way. That was interesting, I once got called a dike, I kid you not. Ignorance sometimes runs rampant in these parts of the woods. Grew back out and back to ponytail status.
I have had 2 maybe 3 people cut my hair from the times I was born until the time I turned 30. I was back to the one who had cut my hair in a shag in the beginning and I decided I wanted short, sassy and professional. Boy did that go WRONG. Went back to her to fix it, I am guessing she was experiencing a mid-life crisis or something but she made it worse. Went and paid high dollar money to one of those famous chain hair stylist shops to have them fix it, they sort of fixed it enough for it to start growing out correctly but geez my short, sassy and professional turned out to be a bad after-school movie lesson and I was in my late 20's.
Once it grew out this time, I was going to keep it long. Ponytails kind of fit me. Tomboy, go-getter and low-maintenance. People would know me by the back of my head! I had to wear my ponytail on the top of my head because it was too heavy to hang and would give me a headache.
Fast forward 20 plus years and 3 more hair dressers and I found one I would trust with a new shorter cut again. Evette has been doing my hair since my 42nd birthday I think and I sent her some guidelines, suggestions and photos of somethings I was pondering. She immediately said she had a great idea for a new do for me and we were both excited. I also wanted to go redder-brighter red.
About a week after my new shorter, redder do I went to a local social event. I had read on Facebook that some people from Deva Curl or something to that effect were going to be there looking for curly haired people for a project they were working on. I had completely forgotten about it when I got there and had found a seat at the bar with friends having a great time when I realized I had forgotten my phone in my car.
Of course I had to have it! I had noticed a couple at the end of the bar eating Seaweed Salad and I knew they were not from around this neck of the woods. As I was walking out to get my phone they stopped me! I was like, I have been busted staring at them trying to figure out their story, eek! Instead they wanted to talk about my hair. WOW, I knew Evette was good, but what a compliment to us both. They asked if I had heard of their project Curly Girls Night Out and I mentioned I saw something on Facebook earlier that day and they asked me to audition. Well heck yeah, let's do this!
I immediately sent a text to Monica, Vel, Annie and a couple of my other curly friends to get in on the deal. This could be fun. And someone likes my hair!! Finally. My hair is worthy of STAGE TIME! Who are we kidding, I AM WORTHY OF STAGE TIME!
Jimmy Arber of Salon Verve, co-owned with Evette Tritt was there hanging with us that night and I made him be my stage manager. I introduced him to Jonathan and Shari as my stage manager. They immediately fell in love with us both. Who wouldn't!
Jonathan asked me some questions and I was to answer them on camera upstairs in the private bar at Jul's. I had just watched a young, beautiful, blazing-red, curly haired goddess do her audition. WOW. I got this.
Monica was cursing me because I didn't tell her why I wanted her to meet me, just meet me. She had no make-up on and her glasses on. She did great, I love that blonde head of curls to her toes and back. Annie declined due to scheduling conflicts as did Vel that night.
Jimmy stayed on Annie and Vel and got them to interview the next day, Annie by phone I think. Jonathan got back to New York and still needed one my curly gal to round out the set, I suggested Jasmine. Got them hooked up by e-mail and such and the line-up was set with Myself, Annie, Vel, Ashley Jo and Jasmine.
We then had to send in our curly stories based on the feedback Jonathan gave us from our interviews. He worked up a script for each of us and we scheduled rehearsals. We had less then 2 weeks from introduction to event. No pressure! The 5 of us got together on night and met each other. I knew everyone but Ashley Jo and Jasmine was new to everyone else I think. Vel, Annie and I see each other often.
I fell head-over-heels in love with Ashley Jo immediately. When I found out what she did for a living I got chills and thanked the Universe for putting her in my path. What a beautiful soul. We had a short meet and greet, then we called Jonathan in New York and conference with him and the lady from the local paper. We had dinner together and hung out for a bit.
The next weekend we started rehearsals on Sunday night and the show was on Tuesday. Jimmy opened up Salon Verve for us to rehearse and Jonathan flew in from New York to direct us. Bless his heart. 5 women with very different personalities. That's all I am saying about that.
I loved spending more time with Annie, Vel and Jasmine. We see each other but we don't get enough quality time together. We were together from Sunday night thru the wee hours of Wed morning it seems. We all took off work Tuesday for hair and make-up and dress rehearsals. I enjoyed getting to know Ashley Jo better. I am smitten with her aura, energy and ease.
Monday night and Tuesday day proved to me I was not made for show biz. I will take my 5 minutes of fame and move on. I am not a hurry up and wait kind of gal. I have work, school, more work and personal time I gave up for this and to be sitting around twiddling my thumbs in not my idea of a good time. On top of that, I like a schedule of where I need to be and when and I like that to be consistent. I am learning to roll with the flow and that I am not in charge of anything but just a bit player. Hard to swallow but I am a work in progress. The schedules kept changing as to where we needed to be and when. The hair appointment for myself and Vel almost did not happen at all. They moved up the rehearsal times Tuesday morning and so we rushed to get there to just sit and wait and then were told we could not leave until the whole walk-thru was done. Some of us had not eaten, some of us had not had our hair done with the Deva Curl stylists, some of us are just not that good at sitting still without a purpose. I called Jimmy and John for back-up! Bring me and Vel a drink, STAT! We sneaked out with Jimmy and went down to the salon. Finally Vel and I got our hair done. When we went back there was food for the the crew but none for us. Thought that was kind of rude, please don't leave but we aren't going to feed you. So we sneaked out again and went down to Jake's and they took good care of us. We got a sneak peek at what the after-party was going to be like and we did a few cheers to the Curly Monologues and went back to sit and wait.
It was funny to watch everyone's rehearsal style and their level of nervousness or anticipation. We have a couple of introverts and a couple of extroverts and some control-freaks and some followers and everyone of us was so different, yet here we are all together for a common cause. I think this is a bonding experience the 5 of us will never forget among ourselves.
Jonathan, director, friend, visionary, patient, encouraging, risk-taker, teacher, good-soul. I can not say enough about this man. He has left a lasting impression on us all in such a short time. I feel like we have been friends forever and the comfort level is there. He's a hugger, he will push you out on the ledge and make you jump, he will also be there to catch you. I watched him take Jasmine's note cards away from her, MINUTES before we went on stage live and said you can do this. I think I panicked more than Jasmine did, but he was right and she nailed it! Thank you for that Jonathan. He had to take wordy me and condense me down to about one minute. Originally we were each going to have 5 minutes and it was 1 minute by the time it got here. You all know I can go on.
The people we met thru Deva Curl and Stylist we met and even a Curl Psychologist were all so very impressive. Each person played their part and their part will forever be a part in my story.
The 5 local Curly Monologue gals got on stage and nailed our part as Jonathan knew we would.
The after-party at Jakes was a happening little place to be. I got to introduce my best friend's son to the lady who wrote and directed "The Kink In My Hair", he is all into stage and acting. (it is suppose to be coming here soon and I highly recommend everyone go see it) The roof-top was gorgeous with the perfect weather. And Jonathan introduced me to Jonni! I knew right then and there she had to be in my universe! What a beautiful soul inside and out.
Then there was the after-after party at Salon Verve, I mean where else would you have an after-after party for a bunch of stylists and product reps. Guess what happened at the after-after party? Guess you had to be there.
I am forever changed and I will forever embrace my curls and my girls and guys too.
It was all worth it!
