I discovered a salon a few minutes drive from where I stay. I’ve been there five times for shampoo and hot oil treatments. She was recommended to me by someone from Sally’s. Oyen had met her once.
Visiting Lita’s salon is more of relaxation. She shares the place with a barber who comes in at 12:30 pm. I come in at 10 am before big men start pouring in. No one comes in the morning except me so it’s quiet.
She’s curious about me because I have time to go to her salon on weekdays and during office hours. I told her I am semi-retired, doing some office work before.
It’s an utter luxury because I don’t get to do this in Manila. The part I like the most is when she scratches my head vigorously while shampooing. The downside is the oil stays even after two shampoos.
Lita and I have sort of bonded. I think we’re of the same age but she looks younger in my opinion. She thinks I am a lot younger. Maybe this is the reason why we like each other. We patronize old women egos.
She was a little calculating during my first two visits. I think she doesn’t have an Asian client. Her clients are mostly African-Americans and Hispanics. Oh, I think she has one Indian client, her neighbor, who recently lost her husband from a heart attack. Lita tells me that one afternoon she saw the Indian husband dragging his right leg to his car. She wondered what’s wrong with him. After a few minutes, someone called 911 because he collapsed. After staying in the hospital for 3 days, the husband passed away. He has a business but the wife was never involved. She just stayed home and now with her husband gone, she is trying to learn the business with the help of her husband’s best friend who is African – American.
Lita divorced her husband in 2008 because he was lazy and didn’t want to take on family responsibility. She’s been single ever since. She wants to date and to have sex. Funny because it all started with the question “How do you spot a good guy?” Before I could answer, she asked another question “How do you know he is the right one? They don’t come along these days. Men are ain’t no good”. I could only give a laugh. This was the start of our friendship. She started confiding with me about this guy who’s been asking her out.
If she is 16 or 18, the questions are: Is he cute? Does he go to the same school? Is he a gentleman?
If she is 24, the primary questions are: What did he finish in college? Which university did he attend? Does he have a job? Where does he live? Is he handsome?
If she’s 35: Why is he still single? Does he have kids from his past girlfriends? What does he do? Does he have a job?
If she is 40: And why is he still single? Is he gay? Why was he divorced? What’s wrong with him?
If she is 50: Why did his wife leave him? How many children does he have? Do they live with him? How much income does he earn? Does he own a house? Does he own a business or does he have a stable job?
Lita is 57, with grown-up children, has grandchildren, runs her own business, rents a house far from her salon, drives a few years old car. She is about 5’10” tall, gorgeous face, more than average big hips.
A——“Don’t look for love Lita. You don’t need a new husband”.
Lita—–“How come men don’t like old women?”
A——–“Of course. They are old, they want a trophy to caress their manliness. They want pretty and sexy, more for the looks”.
Lita—–“I should remove this” (touching her massive behind).
A——-“If he likes you, he likes you. I’ve seen men with fat girlfriends. You look gorgeous Lita, don’t worry about it. You must’ve looked like a super model when you were in your 20s.”.
She got pregnant when she was 18.
A tall, macho guy walked in and greeted Lita. He showed us the stitches on his palm.
He was in pain due to carpal tunnel syndrome.
He left the salon right after a woman called him.
Rita—–“I like that guy. He was in the military. He is married to a very young woman”.
A——-“If this guy asks you out, would you go out with him?
Lita said ‘Oh certainly. Yes before, but now he’s married. He’s a good guy. I’ll marry him”.
The guy was a retired military personnel. His wife is 21 years younger. They have two children.
Lita—–“His wife is no good. When he’s not around she yells at her kids, hits them. There’s this younger guy she met at the salon. She was flirting with him. She gave him her number. We all know they are seeing each other”.
A——“Does the husband know”.
Lita—–“We ain’t gonna tell him. I think he knows. He’s just letting her be.”
A—-“So tell me about this guy who’s been asking you out. What does he do?”
Lita—-“He’s been coming here asking me to help him do a paper… submit to some job, I don’t know… we’re friends”.
A—–“Hmmp, not that guy. He has no stable job. He is going to be a liability”.
Lita—-“Got no other prospects. Men are married. Single guys don’t like old grandma”.
A—-Does that guy own a house? Where does he live?”
Lita—–“With his sister, they share an apartment”.
A——“Oh no Rita. Not that one”.
Lita—–“I kind’a like to go out”.
A—–“Then go out, Go to Red Lobster with him. Make sure he pays for your meal”.
Lita——“I ain’t no sex for 12 years”.
I didn’t laugh because she sounded serious.
A——-“Sex? Just use his body if you want sex. Is he good-looking? Does he look and smell clean?”
Lita—–“He wants to go to this resort, a beach, he said we’ll stay in one room”.
A——-“Ohhh he also wants free sex. Then go, you are single, he is divorced. Just have sex, but he’s not husband material. Just for sex. Make sure he spends for the hotel and all your meals.
Lita—-“Here’s the thing, he said we’ll get a bed and I pay half”.
A——-Oh my God Lita, he’s not worth the perfume. He’s a cheapy-cheapy guy who wants free sex on a free bed. Don’t go out with him. Just give him a bottle of water when he comes by the salon”.
Lita —–“I ain’t giving him a perfume”.
A——–“No, when you go out on a date, you take a bath, wear nice clothes, wear make-up and perfume. These things are not free. He’s not worth the perfume”.
Lita—–Yeah, and those are expensive. Perfumes are expensive. He’s not worth the perfume. I like that”.
Lita—–“How about you?” If you divorce …… what kind of guy….. would you date?”
A——–“Oh me? The qualifications would be very different. Too long and complicated”.
Lita——“Why is that? ”
A——“I am a fancy girl. No, never mind. I am not dating”.
Lita said her female friend who works at the post office recently got married, just last Sunday. “I attended. It’s a small wedding but nice. Nice dress, nice hair”.
Not even a week and she was already having problems. She was swept off her feet by this 68-year-old guy when he brought her to the car dealers, bought her a brand new car and paid it in cash. He also gave her a diamond ring and an expensive bag. She is 43. He has a nice big house and lives there by himself. Supposedly.
Two days after they were married, he told his young bride that his 86-year old mother is sick and before the wife knew it, the old bedridden woman was already there. Her husband told her that she needs to take off from work for several months to take care of his mother.
On the fourth day of their marriage, she caught him talking to himself in the mirror, “You, grand old dude, you still got it, man. You have a young bride and she knows nothing yet. She doesn’t know”.
She confronted him but he denied saying anything like that. When she played the recording, the guy just said he didn’t mean anything malicious.
In my opinion, her friend should divorce him right away. She should not waste her time, file a divorce right away. Call her right now.
Lita—–“She called and was cryin’…. and I will tell her that.
