The Pulpwood Queen Introduces Author, Susan Parker and Watches Her Daughter Flying Solo, Internationally for the FIRST TIME!

Dear Readers,

I have fun at my shop meeting people and doing hair. Saturday was one of those days that just kept getting better and better and better!

Almost all NEW clients Saturday and one right after the other. I met Sheila and Dee, then author, Susan Parker arrived of "Walking in the Deep End". She had done her homework arriving at my shop in classic zebra print, (animal print is the signature look of my Pulpwood Queens and Timber Guys Book Club)!
She was a raven beauty and delight to cut and style her hair. Here are the photographs starting with BEFORE at the bottom then the rest working up are the finished product with photos with my oldest daughter, Lainie.

Lainie had been having a gigantic TENT SALE outside of my shop to raise spending money for her college bound trip to Belize on a Mayan ruin excavation for college credit. Go to http://www.mayanresearchprogram.org/ for the full story on her month and a week adventure.

Anyhoo, Susan and my daughter, Lainie really hit it off too and Susan immediately asked Lainie if she wanted to be her research assistant, that is when her books really take off! As I watched the banter between Susan and Lainie, I knew we had another author winner to come to our book festivals. I had begun her book prior to the appointment and yes, indeed, Susan will most certainly fit into the Pulpwood Queen Official Program of Books! I also knew that Lainie had truly found her way. She was just beaming and I just about choke up with tears to see my daughter that happy.

We officially made Susan a paid member of our club and she loaded up on products and my book too, "The Pulpwood Queens' Tiara Wearing, Book Sharing Guide to Life". It's Author Mutual Admiration Society at my Hair Salon/Book Store, Beauty and the Book, the ONLY one in the world.

Now Lainie is in and out, in and out, working the tent sale, running lemonade with pretty party umbrellas to my clients and customers in and out too. Other authors dropped by as well, we exchanged books, information and in the midst of clients getting pedicures from Nail Technician Janet Novey and I, styling hair. We had about five conversations going all at once on everything from the latest books, to how to do the latest hair styles and color, to my hometown of Eureka, Kansas. Suddenly, one of the men visiting in my shop, stands up, (as he was doing paperwork on my recently acquired Victorian sofa while his wife got a pedicure), and approaches me asking, "Did you just say Eureka, Kansas?"

Yes indeed, Lainie was telling a story about visiting my father, who the girls call Big Daddy during Father's day last year and the husband heard, "Eureka!'. Well, evidently his father was a coach in my hometown and was exactly the same age as my father, 78. In fact, he took Eureka High onto State Championship and had just had a 50th reunion in Eureka with the team. He told me his father to these boys, of whom he was just barely older than at the time, he was all of 22, told tale after tale of how his father had shaped their futures. He was their hero!

I love days like this and especially when it's "All About the Story"! He called his mom and dad, the Jamison's in Texarkana and we had a nice chat. Oh, serendipity!

We had a blastie blast at my shop Saturday. Susan headed on down the road and told me this was the best her hair has ever looked. She would be blogging about it. I can hardly wait for her take on my shop. No better day than new friends leaving the shop with big smiles on their faces.

As I finished my last hair cut on my friend, Art, whose hair is to his waist, trimmed, and braided it down his back, he slipped Lainie a $5 tip for the lemonade, for her trip! Lainie practically skipped out of the shop with now enough spending money for her trip to Belize. I helped her take down the last of the items and felt that pang. You all know it when your heart feels as if it will break, your eyes well up, but you buck up and put on the good face. I was already homesick for my oldest daughter as she flies solo tomorrow on her trip to Belize.

As we sat in church this morning I asked my church family to pray for her safe journey and return. Another friend slipped her a check, I can't tell you how many of my friends did this and with such generosity that I am overwhelmed with their big hearts and helping yes, my little girl on her way in life. I am so appreciate of all of you that have helped her, my heart is about to bust.

So between the wonderful day, really my wonderful reading life, I am sad for her departure tomorrow but know that it's time for her to truly fly and leave the nest.

God Bless All of You for helping "feather" her flight, you all know who you are, and please keep sending your prayers for a safe and rewarding journey.

Tomorrow, I will be taking her to the Shreveport airport with a clothespin ready to pinch myself if I even begin to get sad. Stiff upper lip for ole mom but I bet you all have been there and worn the shirt yourself!

Then it's back home to get my baby bird, Madeleine, ready for her first flights. She's already driving now and it all happened in a blink of the eye. We'll have some "flying" lessons while Lainie is gone. Don't worry, you all, I will be posting everything I hear from Lainie on her trip.

Going to the store now to stock up on Kleenix!

Tiara wearing, Beauty and the Book sharing,

Kathy L. Patrick

Author of "The Pulpwood Queens' Tiara Wearing, Book Sharing Guide to Life"

Founder of the Pulpwood Queens and Timber Guys Book Clubs

Beauty and the Book

608 North Polk Street

Jefferson, Texas 75657

kathy@beautyandthebook.com

903-665-7520

http://www.beautyandthebook.com/

http://www.pulpwoodqueen.com/

P.S. Any advice from all of you on how to get over your children flying from the coop! I would love to hear it so please comment!