Sing Along in the Nail Salon

With my dear friend Sheri at Emilynn's wedding with the sun in our eyes. 

I have been under the weather for over a month. I can't even begin to explain to you the exhaustion I feel today. The weekends come and I rest, and sleep, and begin to feel a bit better. Then the work week comes and I am worn out. My body revolts and turns against me in all the yucky ways a cold/flu would. Does this last a month? Do I have a variety of different viruses? I am literally starting to think there might be something more to it. I only hope that it clears up quickly because I am tired of achy arms and legs, GI problems, and a fatigue that I can't even put into words. I didn't even feel this exhausted after running a marathon. WEAK. Weak, dizzy and tired are the words explaining how I feel. I have been downing Vitamins B12, C, and D today. I already took a three hour nap and I drove my daughter to a birthday party and I am wiped out.

Last week was parent teacher conferences. I love parent teacher conferences. I like talking to the parents! You know there is nothing better than a parent who is concerned, involved, and loves their child. I see so many parents doing their best and asking for advice. One sweet Momma came in to conferences overdue and THEN ended up having her baby that night. What a good Momma. I just love all those Moms and Dads doing their best on behalf of their littles and I so love those little chiddlers. My heart. 

My daughter had a stomach virus Thursday night and stayed home Friday. After work, I stopped at one of my favorite nail salons. I needed some self care. I had worked hard that week. Plus the periwinkle blue color that I did not pick....had peeled off my nails. (With my help of course) I walked in and was seated with an older but very pretty Asian woman. She began to work on my hands. I noticed the mix of music was nice and as I looked around I saw a variety of women. We were all different ages. I heard one nail tech say to a gal, "You are so pretty, you look like Drew Berrymore." To which the girl blushed and thanked her. I thought what a nice thing it is to be complimented. There were nail techs of all ages working and all of them were from Asian countries, which ones I do not know. Each of them so beautiful. There was a woman who was older than me who sat next to her Mom both happily getting their nails done and later joined by her daughter. Three beautiful generations of women. There were two women there who were so lovely one reminded me of Gladys Knight. They were close to Gladys' age. Then the most amazing thing happened in the hum of that nail salon, something I have never seen before. 

It brought people together like Pokemon Go did. 

A song began......

I cried a tear

You wiped it dry

I was confused

You cleared my mind

I sold my soul

You brought it back for me

And held me up

And gave me dignity 

Somehow you needed me.....

One voice started to hum, and another joined in singing, and another, and then my nail tech began to sing, and voices through the whole nail salon were singing. I have never witnessed anything like this but I knew I was in the presence of pure magic. I sang along too. 

This song resonated with all of us and tied us all together. Music does that. Music is magical. I was in the presence of so many beautiful women all singing and each of us had a story. I wondered what everyone's story was. Who did they need and who needed them? I am still waiting I think for that. 

We then all started to have a discussion about the song and who was the singer. Most of the women thought it was Karen Carpenter. It does sound like her and then someone thought maybe Carly Simon which I for sure knew it wasn't her. I couldn't help it, the detective in me had to look it up. 

Anne Murray. You Needed Me. Look it up and give it a listen it's lovely. 

I remember driving in the car and this song playing and my Mom singing along. I remember looking over at her and asking her what a pedestal was and her explaining it to me.  I can remember her profile beautiful shoulder length red hair and freckles. I was little. This song was released a year after I was born. 

I have been thinking so much about that Sing Along in the Nail Salon. I have been thinking about what it is to be a women and the bond of women. I have been thinking about the power of music. Music and the Feminine and I just had to tell you about it. Maybe we can all sing along to Anne Murray this week in celebration of music and the divine nature of being a woman. 

Verde Salsa Chicken Noodle Soup...Delish

I always welcome my children home with a full cake tray...maybe this is me putting them on a pedestal. 

Just a few of the most beautiful, most feminine, loving, kind, women I know. As we stood in a circle after this picture was taken crying sweet Courtney said, "We were all so broken." We were. We were so broken when we met and now we aren't broken, we are healed and those wounds are filled with the love of others kindness'. Emilynn's wedding was beautiful and she was stunning. 

XOXO- You gave me strength. To stand alone again. The Sunny D.