Stay out of my personal bubble!

A friend stopped by this a.m. and we chatted about work and family. Her youngest, a girl, is growing up quickly but I call her my mini-me as we look alike! Both redheads and both the youngest in the family. Lydia is a spunky young lady who I enjoy whenever I see her!

So my friend was talking about Lydia not liking to do much with her hair. I remember those days! My friend also shared with me how an aunt of Lydia's always comments about Lydia's hair, right  in front of her!

This brought back memories of my aunt, Mary! Aunt Mary was a feisty woman who talked about 100 m.p.h. Her house was always a mess, kitchen counters and table were always piled with things. She was married to my uncle Frank who was a quiet man but would barb right back to my aunt if she would start in on him! These two amused us but going to visit them was one boring trip for me, I was the tag along who could not be left at home alone.

So it was during one of these visits when Mary and Frank were at our house that I had a close encounter that has left a lasting impression on me! I was about Lydia's age and at the time I was growing my bangs out and if you have ever tried to grow your hair out there gets to a point in this growing process that you just want to either have your hair grow already or cut it!! It can drive you nuts some days! Apparently my growing bangs bothered my aunt as at one point during their visit while I was in the room she proceeded to dig in her purse and produce a brownish colored barrette. She then came at me saying we needed to get those bangs back and out of my eyes. My aunt only had two sons and they were adults when I came into the family picture. So where she had any knowledge of dealing with girl-hair, I have no idea. But she clipped my growing bangs back with this barrette, THEN she told me she had found the barrette laying in the street and had picked it up putting it in her purse to use some day. And now had found the ideal moment to use that barrette!!!! Are you kidding me??? I remember my eyes meeting my mom's eyes over my aunt's shoulder and getting that "mom look" from her. I was a quiet kid, but when people go into my personal space or bubble I would get really uncomfortable and literally back away. I tried that in this situation but I was standing in the kitchen and had no way out. But I heeded my mom's look and kept what was running through my mind to myself. (I kept my mouth shut back then!) But as soon as my aunt and uncle were out the door that barrette was out of my hair and I was washing my hair!!!!

As I shared this experience with my friend this a.m. she was laughing at my episode and my reaction as a kid. I still to this day could identify that damn barrette my aunt put in my hair in a police lineup! Yuck!!!

The whole episode of my aunt putting that barrette in my hair brings me to admitting I'm a "stay out of my personal bubble" kind of person. I'm not sure why or where this comes from. I'd rather shy away from an up close experience. Or I guess, to put it bluntly, don't touch me or put barrettes in my hair!

I've lived to tell about the "barrette incident" and my mom also recalled the whole experience with great humor over the years. I must have had the "don't touch me" look in my eyes, but my aunt was oblivious to it all and more concerned with my growing hair. I didn't get lice or cooties or whatever my mind thought could be living on that barrette but I guess one thing I learned was a small lesson on tolerance! And I hope I've learned to convey the message to say out of my personal bubble over the years because one thing is for sure, my aunt sure didn't get it!!