April 2002"... I guess it hits us all sooner or later - even the calm ones."
by Valerie Carino
...
My new hairdresser ended my first haircut appointment with an upsetting remark, "Honey, out of all this beautiful hair, there's one gray hair. You need to watch your stress. That affects your hair. And you need to watch your diet, too. That hurts your hair as well."
I thought it showed only on my face - dark circle city - but now my hair, too? It seems the neuroses are on high right now, making even the smallest observation take on the greatest weight.
I've never been good about eating right. When dramas hit, I cook a pot of rice and my favorite Filipino dish, adobo. This tangy chicken dish isn't listed in my Weight Watchers book for points, which isn't an excuse, of course, but somehow I've made it one.
From time to time, I try on my wedding dress just to make sure it's not snug (last check was okay.) But healthwise, I'm wrecked. I'm tired all the time. I don't feel beautiful.
The invitations, the guest list, turkey or ham, ham or roast beef, and what about the vegetarians? All these questions have taken precedence over my personal needs, and now my hairdresser - a complete stranger - has recognized it.
Thank god for a weekend away.
In a few days, I will be standing up in my best friend's wedding in North Carolina. I have known Arlene since cheerleading tryouts in the 8th grade, when both of us followed our peers' dreams of wearing the gold and blue for our school. She met her fiancé nearly five years ago, and he proposed with a princess diamond after the two had gone on a skiing trip. They are a humble, giving couple. She hopes to enter medical school within the next few years and he is a firefighter.
To my detriment, I have been a bad maid-of-honor. Between the move and the job search, I did not have time to plan a shower. I suppose those are standard in wedding-ville, but I've been preoccupied. Arlene says it's no big deal, but I can't help but feeling like a schmuck.
As a bride, Arlene has been relatively anxiety free, as her celebration will be a manageable party with 60 people sans a band or a pricey five course meal. In preparation for the event, she has been working out, but her size 4 frame has hardly budged since junior high.
I asked her recently how she does it, how she manages not to stress over "the biggest day of her life," and she said she just doesn't allow herself to.
Of course, last week, she woke up in the middle of the night, realizing that this was it, she was getting married. The nerves finally crept up on her.
So I guess it hits us all sooner or later - even the calm ones.
Still, I have no doubt she will make a gorgeous bride. Shiny hair and all.
|
