Today I was at the gym about an hour or so into my workout and a woman was saying something to me. I couldn't hear her with my headphones on, so I took them off and asked her to repeat herself. She told me that she worked in a beauty salon and that she thought I had very beautiful hair.
I should disclose that woman is 87 years old and I have actually known her for over 35 years (although she did not remember me). Yetta Brenner is one of the nicest, kindest people I have ever known. Her family used to own Brenner Brothers Bakery in Bellevue (the current site of Barrier Porsche) and my family would stop in for doughnuts after church (I think that's how my parents convinced us kids to go to church at all). It was nice to see and talk to her again - I think I will be seeing her quite a bit in the future - she's been going to the same gym off Bel-Red Rd, (currently 24 Hour Fitness) for over 25 years and I've recently rejoined.
I did tell her about my hair farming project, but am not sure she understood. I will give her a Hair Farmer card next time I see her so she can check out this site.
Yetta was always very nice to everyone in my family - especially my sister Jen, the baby of the family, who she always made sure got a special cookie. We all remember Yetta as being very kind - and very flamboyant. She has always worn lots of colorful jewelry, clothes and accessories and has not changed that a bit. I realized today how very friendly and outgoing she is. She has many, many friends at the gym and I'm sure everywhere else she goes. She is a very special person, who is very non-judgmental of people - she accepts people as they are.
She did tell me a story which was both very amusing and upsetting at the same time: She ran into an old friend she had not seen in awhile and asked her how she was. "Not too good" her friend replied. Yetta said "I'm sorry to hear that - what is the trouble?" Her 'friend' said "my daughter married a god damn Jew!". Yetta said, "well, you like me, don't you?"
Her 'friend' apparently did not know that Yetta is Jewish. Brenner Brothers Bakery was probably the first and most successful Jewish Bakery and Delicatessen in Bellevue. Gosh Darn, I miss that place - but am glad to have bumped into Yetta again.
Not sure how this fits in with hair farming yet, but I'd be willing to bet that Yetta helps me to recruit some more hair farmers .... Regardless, it was very nice of her to say something about my hair - perhaps it doesn't look as bad as I sometimes feel it does. Maybe I shouldn't be wearing hats all the time ...
