“You leave me with false eyelashes and a dance performance again and I don’t know what I’ll do, but it won’t be good.” Those were the words Brett was welcomed home to on April 13, as he came in the back door all ready to head down to the Dragonette’s Spring Show. We…Hadley, Elle, Grandpa, Roxanne and I…had spent the last two hours combing, primping, painting, curling, slicking-down and finally trying to apply false eyelashes. Oh, my!

Just to back up a bit, we have come a long way since the early years of dancing. Back then, I literally didn’t have a clue. I studied the hair videos, accepted hints on “how to” and learned to use new tools to get the slick, sleek look Hadley and Elle needed. I should have been taking hair and make-up lessons while they were learning to dance. It’s a package deal and when you don’t measure up on your end, the whole experience could be a disaster…no matter how good their moves. Luckily, in the past we have had Rox and Gia who stepped in and got the girls ready to go. 

I thought we were in good shape for this year’s Spring Show and could do it on our own. Hadley is good at doing Elle’s hair and can get the slick bubbles up the back of the head easily. She didn’t even pull and poke Elle while getting the job done. We had this down. By 4:30, Elle’s hair just needed me to crimp. Hadley was getting her own pony, with no fly-aways, in place and by 5:00 all we needed was make-up. Hadley needed to be on location at 5:30 and Elle at 6:00. 

Hadley was confident in doing the make-up; however she informed me we were going with false eyelashes, and she had never done those. I tried the pragmatic approach…”Aaa this isn’t a competition, mascara will look great.” Nope, they had bought false eyelashes, the team needed her in false eyelashes, she would have false eyelashes. Speed dial Rox and Gia. Gia was not available, but Rox left work and started the real task of the day…false eyelashes. These were not your typical one-strip-eyelashes, nope…little tufts of lashes, each one needing precision placement with sticky glue onto a very sensitive eyelid. Oh, my! 

Well, 5:30 came and went. Hadley was exhibiting pretty good patience but kept looking at her watch. Rox was a saint and kept pushing through. Grandpa had the car running in the driveway to get the eyelashes and the girl to the high school ASAP. Luckily, after watching the process, Elle decided mascara would be just fine!

The show went on. There were spins and dips and splits and flips. All the girls were engaged, smiling, active and happy. And not one eyelash became displaced. Rox is Good and so is Life!