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Writer's pictureROGER H. TALL, M.D.

27FEB2020 SNOWED IN AT THE CABIN ON HAIRDO DAY

Updated: Feb 21, 2020


On 13JAN2020 in Island Park it was 20/20/20—at 20 degrees Farenheit, a 20 mph blizzard had closed US 20. I was far removed from worrying about global warming. The wind tore big clumps of snow off the trees adding to the blizzard. My carbon footprint was reduced to heating and powering the cabin and running the snowblower. When Mary Kay woke up I told her that US 20 was closed and that she was going to miss her hairdo appointment the next day. If I were a more progressive in my thinking, I would blame these events on global warming and Donald Trump and send some money to Al Gore to ease my carbon-emissions guilt. As it was, I just got warm and fuzzy thinking about being snowed in at the cabin with Mary Kay. Perfect. I love an optimist, but, as it turned out, any chance for romance went right out the door into the blizzard where it was fast-frozen, freeze-dried and put into cold storage.


At Ponds Lodge, we learned that we could go down US 20 but not return back up the Ashton hill when the road was closed. So, we braved the weather, found the road to be just fine and kept the hairdo appointment. I dodged the bullet of being alone in the cabin with a woman had missed hairdo day. As I told this story to others, I learned that husbands often help their wives with their hairdos. These are brave men who have chosen to blaze trails for those of us with weaker constitutions. My friend, Lori was unable to use her shoulder during a prolonged surgical convalescence, her husband took loving and time consuming care of her beautiful, long, naturally curly brown hair. When Lori had the same procedure on the other shoulder, and while she was still sedated, her husband whacked her hair off into a much shorter wash and wear style that was easier for him to care for. They are still married.


My brother, Bruce, tells me that he does his wife's hair. She is a beautician and he carefully proceeds under her direction. He says that she occasionally complains that it is too dark. I told him to tell her that I couldn't tell that he was doing her hair and that she is a beautiful woman and that he is doing a great job. I figured if Bruce could do his wife's hair, I might be able to do the same--especially if we were ever snowed in again on hairdo day. What I needed was an emergency hairdo kit. The Royal Shoe Shop has some Fiebing's shoe dye that matches my wife's hair color. I could go to Cal Ranch and buy a small can of Ultra Boss Permethrin sheep dip and mix up a solution with the Fiebing's. Simple. What could go wrong?


Then I learned some sad truths. The Royal Shoe Shop has closed and Cal Ranch has moved to a new location. I also learned that being prepared for a snowed-in hairdo involves so much more than some sheep dip and shoe dye. I have been married to this woman for 50 years. She is my trusted companion. We confide in each other daily. I tell her things that I tell no other person. We feel safe relating exactly how we feel and think—knowing that we will still be loved and trusted, no matter what we say. When Mary Kay comes home on hairdo day, sometimes I ask her what she learned from the hairdresser. More often than not, she says, "Oh, I can't tell you that." Men think of themselves as being the center of our wife's universe--well we are not. It's the hairdresser.

Ever Vigilant,

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felices2juntos
Jan 13, 2020

Any money you forward to Bro. Gore would certainly be helpful to feed his fleet of fossil-fuel guzzling vehicles and keep him mobile. Surely, he would be grateful. Judging by the picture of you two on the bed, Mary Kay isn’t the only one who needs the hair dresser. Aloha from our rock our rock. A neighboring rock on one of the outer islands is expecting what they are calling “severe snow“ on Mauna Kea above 12,000 feet. . . Up to 4 inches.

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celiakaye
Jan 13, 2020

Oh no....that means Mary Kay will miss lunch too....😢 Otherwise, everything sounds heavenly 🌬🌬🌬

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