Hollywood…

I always loved the movie Steel Magnolias.

Maybe it was because we had our own version in West Blocton, Alabama.

She was my Aunt Pat’s baby sister, so I called her my Aunt too.

My Aunt Deborah owned the Step-n-Style, which was our local beauty shop.

If you wanted to feel beautiful, that is where you went.

She was so beautiful that we all hoped it would transfer over to us. And it kinda did, when she would “ooh and aah”, you would leave there feeling like you were somebody. Her nod of approval meant everything.

I remember my grandfather telling me he would pay for me to get a permanent if I wanted one. He said when my hair was curly, I reminded him of my grandmother.

Before he could finish, I was dialing that rotary phone to make an appointment.

It was the 80’s, and you would come home with not only a permanent but also an outfit and a pair of earrings.

Years later, it would be where I would buy my “I’m not really a waitress” matching nail polish and lipstick set.

Local men sat around at the gas station, but the women were at the beauty shop.

We tanned, talked and waited our turn while Aunt Deborah multi-tasked. On an average day, she could cut your hair, take care of her mother, raise a baby, and still look fabulous.

She was an entrepreneur before we even knew what that was. If she were still in business now, I would bet money on her to negotiate a business deal, women’s rights, and peace in the Middle East.

I bet she has walked a few thousand miles for exercise on the streets of our town over the years and her walking buddy Barbara would call her “Hollywood”.

That was one of those nicknames that you didn’t have to ask where it came from.

When I worked at the Woodstock Town Hall, an out of town salesman came in talking about a beautiful woman. I knew immediately who he was talking about.

I told her about that the next time I was in her chair just to watch her smile.

One of my favorite stories about her was actually from a funeral. Coach Kellogg, who had retired and left years ago, had returned to town and wanted to know if she still cut hair. He laughingly admitted that he got his hair cut every two weeks back when he lived here.

I was also lucky enough to have her and my Aunt Pat and Grandmother Findley to help me when I was growing up and living with my Daddy.

I remember getting ready for my 6th grade graduation, and she looked at me and said she wished she could have a little girl like me.

It would still be several more years before Katie Clark would be expected. I can remember that I was in high school when Rachel Hicks ran up to me, excited about the news that she was going to have a baby.

She had been married 13 years, I think, and had all but given up the hope of ever having a baby. The whole town celebrated the news, and her doctor said she was the happiest pregnant woman he had ever had for a patient.

Now she is a grandmother of 2 and has moved to be near them.

Her home and beauty shop would have made a great movie set. My memories of our conversations and laughter would make some great scenes. Names would have to be changed, of course, to protect the guilty.

Just like the Steel Magnolias, we have cared for, comforted, and scolded each other.

Some of my favorite pictures are with her and the church ladies sitting in my house talking at a baby shower. You can tell we are enjoying talking, and she is rinsing dishes in the sink. A sweet little moment in time capturing the best part of our lives-each other.

There were times in my life that I would feel sorry for myself when I didn’t have my Mother.

Now, I think about the precious women like you that I had in my life at those times, and I am so very thankful.

Huntsville, Alabama is blessed to have you Hollywood.

I love you, miss you and I am so grateful for all that you did for me.

Enjoy your retirement because you deserve it. I don’t know of a woman who has ever worked as hard as you and looked so beautiful doing it.

I love you. Always.

Cheryl