A New Day, A New Experience

A few weeks ago I got to experience something that I knew I would at some point in my life but didn’t know when.  For the first time in my life I did someone’s hair that had passed away.  I wasn’t sure what to expect, but considering I got the chance to experience it for the first time on my grandma, I felt like this was the perfect opportunity.

I really wasn’t sure if I really wanted to do it, but I could tell my mom wanted me to do it.  The more I thought about it, I knew it was right.  Everytime I went to visit my Grandma in the nursing home, her hair looked TERRIBLE!  This was my chance to make sure my Grandma looked great, for the last and final time.

The week of her passing was a crazy one.  I was already running around like a chicken with my head cut off at work because I was going to be gone to Vegas with all the ladies in Brent’s family.  I went down to Manson to the Funeral Home on Wednesday evening and Dean Weishaar, the Funeral Director, met us there.  Let me remind you this at at 10:30 pm.  Let me cut to the chase.

This was definetly a new experience and I didn’t know what to expect–but whatever I thought it was going to be like; it wasn’t.  It was actually a really great experience.  I got to see my grandma in a better condition than she had looked in the past I don’t know how many years.  Dean did a great job with her.  Hello, he even painted her nails a normal color–not something bright like they always had on her!

I have to tell you this funny thing.  I’m in the viewing room with just my grandma and I.  Dean wanted to take her out there so I didn’t get too freaked out since it was the first time I had done this.  I’m talking loudly and saing; “Dean, you got any tweezers here?”  He brings me a set of tweezers and asks what I’m going to do with them.  Like it was no big deal, I tell him I’m going to pull a few of her “whiskers” out.  Boy, was I glad I told him what I was going to do!!  Dean taught me so many things while I was doing my Grandma’s hair.  He informed me that when working with someone that has passed away, you can not pull hair out of the follicles becuase it dehydrates the pores and then that area turns brown because of it.  See why I’m glad I didn’t tweeze her face?  Poor Grandma would have had brown spots all over!

In conclusion, I am so, so, so glad I decided to do my Grandma’s hair.  It was so special to me to spend that last bit of time together before her wake the next day.  We found some notes that Grandma wrote down in 2003 along with requested songs in preparing for her trip to The Kingdom Of God…“I loved helping others as a nurse’s aide… Thanks to those who cared for me, And I’m sorry, but I am tired… Have a good party for me!!!”  She was a special lady to a lot of people.  My sister and I were so lucky to have her so close to us growing up in Manson.  God bless her and I hope she is having a grand ol’ time with my Grandpa, her soulmate in Heaven!  RIP Grandma!

Grandparents are a family’s greatest treasure, the founders of a loving legacy, The greatest storytellers, the keepers of traditions that linger on in cherished memory. Grandparents are the family’s strong foundation. Their very special love sets them apart. Through happiness and sorrow, through their special love and caring, grandparents keep a family close at heart.  ~author unknown