Never, but NEVER question the Blackberry!!!
Today I did something stupid. Something very very very stupid. I questioned my Blackberry. More than that, I decided my Blackberry was wrong. It wasn’t.
I had an appointment today. Nothing radical or life or death. Just getting my hair cut. It was my first appointment trying out a new stylist (who also happens to be a friend of mine). I had stopped into the salon last week to make an appointment (finally! My hair has needed a change since about two days after it was done last). He and I chatted and decided that today would be the best day for both of us. We discussed time, and I put it into my Blackberry (as I do with anything I know I need to remember). He also wrote down the appointment on the back of one of his cards. I put it into my purse next to all of the other important cards and random slips of paper I can’t lose. Didn’t look at it again until last night when it fell out as I was getting my credit card to pay for a new pair of killer earrings (yes- another pair). I picked it up and noticed that the card said 10:30. I had “cracked” (my affectionate term for putting something into my calendar log on my phone) the appointment for 10. I knew the appointment was for 10. I remembered the conversation. But then I started wondering. Had I cracked the wrong time? Had we been having two different conversations? Maybe I heard him wrong? Did he say 10 but really mean 10:30? I debated it for a few minutes. Then made the hasty decision that the real appointment was at 10:30 since that was what he had written (normally I would have thought it over a bit longer, but the lady at the register was getting pretty cranky waiting for me to sign the receipt). So, I planned accordingly. Stupid me. I didn’t even think to call and clarify. I just assumed my Blackberry was wrong. It wasn’t. It never is.
So, I get to the salon at 10:30 on the dot and he greets me with a “I gave up on you! Where have you been?!”. Yup. The crack was right. My brain was wrong. So was the card. The appointment was at 10. Because I was late, he had taken a walk-in. My time-slot was shot. And he was booked solid until lunch. Shoot! Then he offered to squeeze me in after the walk-in and before his next appointment. I jumped at it! I really wanted to see what he could do with the fried mass of split ends my hair had become from all of the chemical treatments. So, I waited. Flipped through some magazines, made a couple of phone calls, and then waited some more. Thought about going to get something to eat, but it was only 11, and I wasn’t quite ready for lunch yet. Rendezvous was right across the road, but I had just come from Caribou and wasn’t really wanting any burnt bitter espresso from the small shop. Apparently the walk-in took longer than he anticipated, because just as he finished her, his next appointment walked in the door. He offered to tell her that he was running behind, but she looked like she was in a hurry. So, I offered to come back that afternoon if he had any open spots (I have the whole day off- why not?). Then the phone rang, and it was the client after the one that was there. She canceled. I took that slot. I sat down again. To wait. And wait. Waiting is NOT my forte. Not even close. I’m always on the go. In fact, I think I’ve forgotten how to sit still. I was getting pretty antsy when something happened. I got calm. It was like a peace just kind of settled over me. I actually found myself hoping that the appointment would take a really long time for him to finish before he got to me. I was enjoying just sitting- something I haven’t done in a very long time. Just doing nothing. It was AMAZING! The cut he was doing actually did take quite a while and I just spent my time in the chair reflecting on all of the good things in my life and how blessed I was.
Then it was my turn. He sat me down in the chair and that’s when my nirvana set in. It was pure bliss. He spent quite a bit of extra time with me, he gave me a neck and shoulder rub and massaged my scalp as he was washing my hair. He asked me what I wanted to acheive with the cut and I gave him the specifications (i.e. I like short hair but as I have a chubby face it’s hard to pull off, I like fun and funky, but I’m in a wedding coming up and was given specific instructions that I had to be able to take my fun cut and turn it into something gorgeous and wedding worthy, keep an eye on my cowlick, etc) and then told him to have fun. He took a great amount of time with me getting everything just right. He started off with a simple, basic angled bob and sculpted from there. I actually got somewhat of an idea what it must be like to be a work of art in progress because of all of the concentration and loving effort he put into my hair as he would get an idea and it evolved. We chatted, and I got to know this Caribou regular on a whole new level. I was relaxed for the first time in a long time. No appointments to run to, no clock to punch, no commuting to worry about, no obligations at all. Just me, Will, the salon, a pair of scissors, and a hairdryer. When he finished, he gave me a hug and offered to give me a discount on the cut and style since I had waited so long. I laughed and declined because I had gotten much more than that out of the whole experience.
I learned several lessons today.
#1- Never, but NEVER question the Blackberry- it is ALWAYS right!
#2- Sometimes you just need to relax
#3- God can turn even the stupidest of decisions on my part (questioning the Blackberry) and turn it around to teach me a pleasant lesson in how to enjoy life more.
#4- Will is a genious! My hair looks drop-dead gorgeous, by the way.
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