Hair Do.

In Sibu, opposite the Palace Theatre there is this small little hairdressing salon which has the love of many Foochow matriarchs. The Palace Hairdressing Salon proprietress Mrs.Yip, or aunty to us definitely has  good listening skills. She and her daughter must have listened to a thousand or more stories from their clients. And to me they are our local one stop counselling centre in every sense of the word!!

My first hairdo for a local fundraising dance was done by aunty. I had the Lin Dai Hairdo. She did my hair too for my wedding.

In later years I actually go to see her for a hair wash whenever I visit Sibu, my birth town. 

Now, after August 31st 2020, I will have to tell Mrs. Yip that my mum is "no more" or in Foochow, "lost" which in Mandarin is "mei" 没meaning gone, lost, passed away, gone from this earth, died. She would be very sad to know that and she would listen and see my tears.

Mum and her good friends and relatives would often meet up at the salon for a good laugh for more than 50 good years. The conservative ladies would not have their head touched by an Anthony, a Tony or an Alan in Sibu. They were happy with Aunty who would make them look glamourous for a day or two.

It was mum's happy hours, it was her down time. It could have been a "reward" for herself after saving for a hair do. She deserved to look pretty and good.

I cannot remember when she started to have her "hair done", which in Foochow would be "Make Hair" or Jok toumuoh. To have hair done would be to have a good hair wash and have the hair set in the style you wanted. Mum was Mrs. Yip's good customer who brought laughter, good news, and gracious stories.

Mum could be cheeky too as she related a story. She was normally very private and confidential.

 She once asked a school chum in the salon, "How did you do it?"

Her friend chuckled and was honest to boot. She had been married off during the Japanese Occupation to a rough man, 360 degrees different from her. And it was a known fact in the village that she could not get along with him from DAY ONE. 

This came from the horse's mouth, as she told the story to Mrs. Yip and my mother (mum had heard the story actually in bits and pieces before).

After the war, she became a good business woman, trading with the longhouse people. She slowly turned her heart into her business which went from the ulu to the town and made a fortune, while her husband did the cargo handling. Eventually, she arranged for her husband to live permanently in the ulu, divorced him, got him a new wife who became her "sister"! 

Mum's friend travelled the world as free as a bird and as happy as a lark!! For a long time she also called the shots for her ex husband and her children and children from the second family who were very grateful to her. She was their "family" de facto Managing Director.

I am writing this because this particular Aunty was such an impressive modern woman, some one who could even challenge the Temenggong for a verbal war. She also had a special presence whenever she appeared. It is what many people would say, charisma.

Mum was extremely sad when her classmate passed away for a long time as Mum respected bravery, ability and honesty in her fellow women. And she talked about the good old days quite often, with a good chuckle. 

She was sad that the hair dressing chair inthe Palace Salon would be empty where her friend used to sit. 

Mum had a good head of hair which she was very proud of. But to us, just a simple brush and her hair was a crown of glory.

God gave her not only a good head of hair until the last day of her life, but a good brain and a good heart. She bore no one any grudges.

Yes Mrs. Yip's hair dressing chairs would seem quite empty without these gracious white haired ladies, a group of women who gave Palace Salon more than 50 years of business and laughter.

May God bless all hairdressers who have good listening ears and good hearts.