[nonightowl]

I say "lost" in quotes because (thank goodness) she's not deceased, but it's STILL a LOSS. 2nd loss for me this year, this past summer good neighbors moved out. I was lucky to get another good one, but I miss them. And last year my best friend moved away due to being evicted. (He lost his job) He's now 1,000 miles away with his mom.

Now, my hairdresser of 27 years is retiring and going back East where she's from. Her kids and grandkids talked her into it.

She couldn't refer to me to anyone in my area because she doesn't live around here.

She's been like the big sister I never had. We've talked about not just hair or makeup, but practically everything else under the sun: Men, family, neighbors, crap apartments, crap apartment LIVING, car repairs, housekeeping tips, what books we're reading (she's also a bookworm), the weather, shopping, etc. etc. etc. She's been a sympathetic/emphatic listening ear also. I'd talk to her when no one else was available, as has often been the case over the years.

We hugged tightly. She said she wants to keep in touch, so I gave her my e-mail. But you folks all know how sometimes that doesn't pan out. People say that, but they don't mean it or they do at the time, then change their minds.

Now I have to find someone else. Not only do I hate change, but the thought of someone else touching my hair makes my skin crawl. It would be great to be closer to home, but to me it's not just about distance/service received. It's about the RAPPORT with her, the way I click with her. I found her from a friend's referral at the time, but now I don't have any women friends to ask.

I have to rely on acquaintances or the checker at the grocery store. I don't trust online reviews since I don't know if they are bogus or not. Sites like Yelp...they COULD be from a competitor!

This is like grieving to me, as it hasn't even sinked in yet. Though it was a business relationship, there was certainly a lot of personal overlap. I can't go back there, with all those memories. I wouldn't be able to stand seeing someone else at her station.

[gayleggg]

I can understand how you are feeling the loss of a friend/hairdresser. You had built a relationship. Hopefully, she will stay in contact. I have friends that have even after they moved away.

I would start noticing other people's hair and if I see a cut that I like I would ask the person who their hairdresser is. Even strangers don't mind since it's a great compliment.

[ManOfConstantSorrow]

That is extremely inconsiderate of your hairdresser.

[Quarter life]

Modern technology should allow you to stay connected

[Cat_Lover_58]

I'm feeling a bit neglected by a few co-workers/friends who have moved on. They wanted to stay in touch, ok, but texting now and again has been boring. I need a person to see across from me as we drink a good cup of joe.

As for the hairdresser, I cannot relate to that one. My hair is a basic bob cut and anyone can pretty much cut it straight across. (pretty much is the operative two words)

I'd love to be your PC friend if you're game! Cat

[nonightowl]

Originally Posted by Quarter life

Modern technology should allow you to stay connected

Yeah....it "should". I gave her my e-mail address in case she wants to stay in touch, and she said "H e l l, yeah!" But I've had many people say that to me in the past, only to not reallly mean it as I never heard from them. Only time will tell on this one.

Originally Posted by Cat_Lover_58

I'm feeling a bit neglected by a few co-workers/friends who have moved on. They wanted to stay in touch, ok, but texting now and again has been boring. I need a person to see across from me as we drink a good cup of joe.

As for the hairdresser, I cannot relate to that one. My hair is a basic bob cut and anyone can pretty much cut it straight across. (pretty much is the operative two words)

I'd love to be your PC friend if you're game! Cat

I agree that there's nothing like sitting across from someone or seeing someone face to face. IMHO, no technology can ever replace that. Hug emoticons are no where close to the REAL thing, for example. And no matter how human-like or advanced they make AI, they are NOT HUMAN and never can be. The idea of a robot delivering my pizza, package, or whatever gives me the heebie jeebies. (They are predicting this is the future of robots, replacing humans in even more jobs. And those people will be out of work, scrambling to find something else)

Sure, I'm game.