Shirley Temple was the popular child star of the mid 30’s. With her golden curls and cute smile, all mothers wanted their little girls to look like her. Mom was no different. But she had an advantage. She owned a beauty shop and she could make that dream a reality. I already had the golden hair but it was straight as a string! She had just purchased the latest permanent wave machine. A tall menacing contraption with long wires which attached to rods that were used to wind up the hair. After the terrible smelling solution was applied to the rods, the machine was turned on and I was sure I would die! I would probably be electrocuted like Mom had warned me, since this machine was plugged into that outlet. I held my breath and hoped I would make it. After what seemed like an eternity, the machine was turned off and Mom checked my curls. They were beautiful. I was sure I was as cute as Shirley Temple, minus the dimples. (I always wanted dimples.)
All of the ladies who came into the shop would comment on how cute I looked and I loved the attention. I remember sitting and listening to these women talk. I probably heard more than a two or three year old should hear but it just felt good being around people and not alone in the back of the house.
One of my mother’s beauticians, Dorothy Renfro, had some slow time and I asked if I could comb her long, thick hair. I combed and combed and then I twisted the comb around and around so I could make beautiful curls, but soon the comb was all tangled in her hair. I was scared. Mom worked and worked trying to get it out but I believe some of Dorothy’s hair had to be cut off. I think that may have been when I decided I certainly didn’t want to be a beauty operator.
