Hi. It’s Summer.
The other night at dinner my mom said to my dad, “I was at the vet today picking up dog food and I saw a chart which said that Summer is already forty years old in people years.”
Since I was plopped in my usual place on the floor near her feet, I couldn’t help but overhear.
Horrors! Forty? I had no idea I was forty already!
It appears as though I am not a spring chicken anymore. (Of course, I never was a chicken–spring or otherwise–but you get my gist.)
Throughout the rest of the evening, I did my utmost to grasp the fact that I have started into my middle years. Most people (from what I understand) ease into those years gradually, knowing all along that they’re coming. But me? I had no idea the time had passed so fast. How did that even happen?
So. The next question was what to do with that dismaying, disheartening, and disquieting information.
I did the only thing I could do. I scheduled a midlife crisis.
And when that was over, I took myself off to The Monsieur Smith Dog Salon and scheduled a make-over. Because one does not want to enter one’s middle years feeling dowdy, does one?
When I showed up for my appointment, Monsieur Smith (AKA Dad) was getting everything organized and Mademoiselle Smith (AKA as Sister), was getting herself ready to watch the transformation that was about to be.
We started things off with a little general brushing, just to remove any teeny tangles and to bring my hair back to its youthful luster. (If indeed it is not too late in life for luster.)
Girlfriend (that would be me ) loves some personal pampering.
Monsieur Smith was just the man for the job.
He was oh so solicitous and asked me several times, “Are you comfortable, Madame? May I get you some Perrier?” (I planned to leave him a big, big tip.)
After the initial brushing was over and I was feeling mellifluously mellow (Perrier does it to me every time), Monsieur and I spent some time discussing where I should head with my new look. I wanted something that was appropriate for the middle years and yet still carried with it a hint of youthful zing. Because hey, forty is the new twenty, right? And zing is good, right?
Well, Monsieur decided that he would create for me all the zing I could ever want in the form of a Troll Doll hairstyle. He thought it accentuated my cheekbones, de-accentuated my wide-ish hips and gave me a long, lean silhouette.
What was he thinking?
I took one look in the mirror and gasped! Troll Doll! I think NOT ! I am much too refined (and middle-aged) for such nonsense!.
Next, we tried a Quasi Winged Look, which gave me a classy yet contemporary styling. It was just okay.
I don’t think it quite captured the quintessence of my essentiality or the loveliness of the fabulously complicated and yet simple persona of the dignified and fun-loving sweet inner canine that I have come to be.
I tried to explain all that to the Monsieur but he just said, “Huh?”
I just don’t think men are equipped to handle a female’s thought process. (Bless their hearts.)
We moved right along to Look Number Three, a smoothly coiffed style, perfect for a night out on the town with the girls. I would just need to add a jeweled evening bag and some red lipstick and I’d be good to go!
The next style (and pose) in Monsieur’s line up made me feel just a little like a meerkat. Which—since I am a dog– was not ideal.
Now let me just add right here that the whole time Monsieur Smith was working on this Middle-Aged Mama Makeover, he kept reassuring me that he was saving the best look for last. He had just learned how to create this particular style on a recent trip to Le Canine Academie in Paris and he assured me that “all the dogs” were wearing it.
I trusted him, okay? He seemed like such a nice man.
Life Lesson: Never trust a hairdresser . . . .
. . . .whose first name is Monsieur.
I’ve changed my mind about that big tip.
I love Pastor Steve – a man for all seasons!
Fred and Lucy,
Yes, he has so many talents, doesn’t he? 🙂
Summer just takes it all in. She has beautiful hair. I guess I need to brush Prince more but he does not have silky hair like Summer. Luci is a very short-haired little lady.
Ann,
Summer does have lovely hair although we really don’t brush it enough. She LOVES to be brushed! 🙂
Your fur baby is so adorbs! our fur baby is 35 dog years young 🙂
Didi,
Oh to be thirty five agan! 🙂
Summer is adorable, middle aged or not, and quite patient with Monsieur’s silliness.
Debbie,
Nice to know middle age CAN be adorable! 🙂
Just checking on you as unusual for you not to post and I knew you said you had medical checks this week
Becky,
You’re so sweet to check on me; thank you!
Yes, you remembered correctly; I am going in this morning to have my platelets checked. Once my rheumatologist gets the results, he’ll decide whether I need to be taken off all RA meds. Should be interesting.
(And a new post is on the way!) 🙂
Absolutely hilarious. That’ll keep me laughing all day. Now I have to try it on my dogs!
Suzanne,
Happy for the privilege of getting to provide a day long smile. And lots of luck with your dogs! 🙂
oh, Summer, I thought all of your styles were quite charming… well, maybe not really.
Folks in St. Louis pay big bucks to look like you did in that last photo: at the Magic House (which just might be the #1 Children’s Museum in the USA).. but I don’t remember what it is called. If you were there, you would put your paw on something that causes magna static electricity and then Presto! somebody snaps your photo.
Mrs. Pam,
Summer said to you tell that museum sounds like loads of fun, especially since SHE would not be the only one with wild hair!
That is one of the funniest things I have read in a long time – hopefully laughing with Summer, and not at her 🙂
CJ,
Your comment made my day; thank you!
the mowhawk pic is totally cracking me up. I love it. who doesn’t love a little pampering now and then?
our tobey is 91 in dog years 🙁
Bec,
91 years old? Wow! He makes Summer REALLY look like a spring chicken. And yes, pampering is a wonderful thing–for human and canine females alike!
I’m waring the Quasi-Winged look today. Took me a while to perfect it, but at the grocery store, I turned heads!! (I THINK that’s a good thing…right???)
Jojy,
But didn’t you know all the stylish ladies are now wearing the Quasi-Winged look? And turning heads at the grocery store can’t be a bad thing. Right? 🙂
Summer is such a good sport.
Amy,
That she is. I don’t know when I’ve ever met a more docile, agreeable little dog.
Summer, you are so cute with all of your hair styles. I really enjoy your posts Becky. Hoping that you are feeling okay. Take care!
Shawn,
So glad to know you enjoy the posts; I sure love writing them. I’m feeling pretty good these days; getting platelets checked this week.
I love how Summer cooperates with the grooming. Is she as cooperative having her back brushed? She must not shed, as I am envisioning doing this with our 80 pound aussie/great pyrenees. Our bed would be covered in fur! Great writing as always, Becky. Hope you are surviving your taste of winter.
Liz,
She prefers her tummy rubbed but she will sit stock still on the bed while we brush her back, too. And the idea of dealing with an 80-pound dog overwhelms me altogether! Sounds like you’re dog is a beautiful mix, though.
I’ve gotten pretty used to 6 pounds and am thankful I can just pick Summer up and carry her where she needs to go. 🙂