tree of knowledge

Growing up my family life was very Irish-American stereotypical. Which means we just did not talk about the important stuff.

Oh, we talked. A lot. And by nature we are loud. But talk to each other about feelings or emotions? Ha. My parents did not fight nor kiss in front of us, the kids. Or anyone else for that manner. Thus my skill to mask emotion. But not the point of this post.

Throughout my life my parents had a routine. They watched TV every evening. My mom would wash her hair around 10:00 pm, then put her hair into curlers. (Yes, in the 80's and 90's) Then she would go to bed, and my dad would stay up to watch more TV, eventually hitting the hay around 1:00.

On and off during my college career (Which did last nine years, thank you very much) I would live for a bit with my parents. The routine was always remained the same.

One night, when I was in my early twenties, I was awake watching TV around 3:00 am. My mother went into the kitchen, washed her hair, and then sat down in the TV room with me to put it back into curlers.

Strange, I thought. So I asked.

"Mom", I said,” Why are you doing your hair again?"

She smiled. A mischievous smile. Which frankly I had never seen before. Then replied. "It got messed up"

My response? "Ewwwwwwwwww"

At this point she laughed, "Don't ask if you don't want to know"

To this day, the best advice I have ever gotten. Simple truths always are the best.