Thursday Ramble: Memory Flashback

Doc Spo's post about hair ten days ago, triggered a lot of memories for me. Without going into my hair struggle, it reminded me of some wonderful experiences. 

In my middle 20's I started back to finish a college degree. I had finished a few classes at a local community college, and transferred to Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida. I was working full time, like 50-60 hours a week, and taking classes a couple of evenings a week.  Rollins had a very workable schedule for doing this. 

Rollins is at the end of Park Avenue. Park Avenue is very much the Rodeo Drive of central Florida. It is lined with boutiques, cafes, and shops catering to the wealthy. Rollins had built its reputation as a nice liberal arts college for the children of wealthy New Englanders who were not able to get into the Ivy League - or who preferred water skiing and playing tennis to shoveling snow. It was a bit of a country club college. 

I would generally have a couple of days off from work in the middle of the week (and almost always worked Saturday and Sunday.) This worked well for classes. I would go into Winter Park late in the afternoon, have lunch (lasagna and salad at Olive Garden - until they were forced out by a frozen margarita bar out-bidding them on rent.) Then go to class in the evening.   

I was walking back toward Rollins one afternoon and passed Gary Lambert Salon. I had met Gary at the gym, he was at the front desk that afternoon.  I needed a haircut. I had always gone wherever it was cheapest. I had most often hated the way my hair was cut.  I knew it would be expensive, for whatever reason that afternoon I decided I was worth it, and how bad could it be? It was expensive, as I recall about $25 and this was in the mid 1980's. It was also the best haircut I had ever had.  

Gary cut my hair for a couple of years, then asked if I would be okay if Shawn cut it. Shawn was every bit as talented, and younger and kinda cute.  I went back every few weeks for the rest of the time that I lived in central Florida. I am pleased to see that Gary and Shawn are still there. 

I have very fond memories of my time at Rollins.  What I learned there changed me as a human being. I knew when I was there how lucky I was to be there.  I didn't have the typical background of my classmates, I was a first generation college student. I was working and paying for it as I went. It was a warm and welcoming environment.