Definition of whiskers: According to Webster’s desk dictionary THE LONG HAIRS GROWING ON THE SIDES OF A MAN’S FACE.

“Mom, after graduation, Naomi and I decided and if it is Okay with you and her Mom, to stay up here in Santa Cruz. We both love being here. We are planning to find work, so we can share rent and our expenses. That was Jaime, my youngest and only girl in a family of five boys. I was anticipating having her come home after spending a few years in Santa Cruz attending Santa Cruz University.

Also recognizing and loosely accepting her hippie leaning ideas, becoming so popular at the time. (Definition of hippie … A usually middle class young nonconformist who often lives in a commune, wears nonconventional clothing and often takes psychedelic drugs.) Her major was dance, and achieved her degree in Kinesiology (the study of body movement as related to speech) and Dance. For her thesis, we were excited to be at her graduation and watch the original body of work she choreographed and also performed.

Definitely a highlight in my bank of memories, making me a very proud Mother. After many conversations and family discussions, I asked, “What kind of work are you thinking of ?“.

“I am planning on approaching companies in the many local office buildings and offering an exercise or yoga program to the employees, either on their lunch hour, break time or at the end of their work day”.

Well that was an original idea. So me, anxious to help her get started, and with her input, created a flyer outlining her plan, the offering, the actual program and the charge. I had 100 copies printed and quickly sent them to Santa Cruz for her to give out.

After dropping them off in the various buildings, she followed up with a friendly visit.

Santa Cruz was not yet a sophisticated metropolitan like San Francisco or New York, so sadly there was no interest. She was not experienced enough to open her own studio. “So what now honey?”.

“Well, plan B, since Naomi (who majored in Horticulture) can’t find a garden position either, we decided to start a house cleaning service. So, we made a trip and purchased all the cleaning materials we could afford and think we will need to start. We think we can do pretty well”. Yes, mommy helped create another flyer, this time with a picture of two pretty young girls holding a mop and pail, wearing an apron.

Both having beautiful long hair, the photo had that tied with a scarf parked on top of their heads in a bun. I have to say, they were adorable. Surprise of surprises, they did land a few jobs and had fun along the way even lugging the old fashioned really heavy Hoover vacuum cleaner from house to house. So proud of what they had achieved.

I always encouraged my children to go, do and experience everything they wanted to, providing they didn’t do anything illegal or hurtful to themselves or others. They were happy, making money, having fun, on their own, laughing a lot and feeling very entrepreneurial. It might have been the second or third week and cleaning a very nice house, feeling quite successful in their new endeavor, Naomi in the kitchen, and Jaime in the master bathroom, when she went to clean the sink. There it was laying , two days worth of whiskers, mixed in with (she thinks) toothpaste saliva and who knows what else?

Next phone call. “Mom, I’ll be home in a few days, is my bed still waiting for me?”, Fast forward: Jaime having accomplished (while raising two sons) several prestigious certificates, has her own successful Pilates Studio and teaches Online classes in the beautiful marina area of Culver City, California, along side of her film producer husband of 30 years. Naomi was accepted and worked for many years at the famous very beautiful New York Botanical Gardens, has two grown daughters and a lovely life in Carmel, California, also along with her Fulbright Scholar Professor husband.

Yes, this is a true story.

your friend,

dorys forray