The Fashionable Couple

The Fashionable Couple
Most people consider Krazy George Henderson to have invented “The Wave” in 1981. Sorry to disappoint you but “The Wave” was invented more than 20 years earlier by none other than my dad. Unfortunately, it only involved one person, but not for lack of enthusiasm.  Dad could have put Krazy George to shame! The “Victory Wave” resurfaced at my graduation from college.

But “The Wave” wasn’t always displayed with full-arm-extension flair. Once we convinced Dad that crew cuts were definitely out by the mid-70s, he sported a hairstyle that was truly “Far Out.” Add a wide tie and leisure suit and dad looked really groovy! Once he even attempted a mustache and if there were any doubt where Nancy got her red hair, it appeared on Harold’s upper lip. Mystery solved.

Thankfully, Dad most often was not allowed to select his ensembles for wearing out of the house. Many fashion faux pas were avoided by a caveat from Mom:  “You’re not going to wear that are you?”

I remember one event we were going to attend when  it was only 15 minutes before we were supposed to leave and Dad was still in his “everyday” clothes. I asked, “Dad, aren’t you going to change your clothes?” He replied, “I am waiting for your mother to tell me what to wear.” This occasionally had unintended results. When we were preparing to go to a wedding, Dad asked if Mom was ready to go yet. She replied, “No, the hat isn’t on.” Dad promptly slapped the flowery bonnet on his head and marched out onto porch proclaiming, “The hat is on. Let’s go.”

The 70s were also a time when Mom revved up her fashion sense a few notches. Why bother dying your hair another color, when you could go from brunette, to blonde to redhead in less than an hour, all in immaculately fashioned hair-dos? Ah, yes, the wondrous wigs. Little did she know the wigs were far more useful as a crowning glory of many costumes in later years. The red wig made its final appearance on the head of “Cyndi Lauper’s mom” during a rendition of “We Are The World” but rumor has it, it still resides in the “Dress Up” hamper.

Foregoing the wig in the later 70s, Mom attempted a perm, which often appeared as a modified ‘Fro. It may not have been the wisest choice to use dad as a beautician for applying hair color. Prior to one of Mom’s class reunions, they attempted a shade that was purported to be “Chestnut Brown” but in fact was “black as the Ace of Spades.” In desperation, they tried to wash it out with Selsun Blue and it acquired a lovely Navy  tint in full sunlight. This effectively shut down the “Kitchen Stool Beauty Shop,” which was probably a good thing. I spent the first six years of my life with the “bowl” haircut and perpetually uneven bangs.

Following the success of the movie “Urban Cowboy,” Western wear was all the rage. Fully embracing the latest trends, Mom and Dad got all decked out in matching western outfits complete with huge hats, boots and gaudy belts. No folks, that wasn’t a Halloween costume, it was for real! They even attempted disco dance lessons and were seen cutting a rug in the basement to the ever-popular “Disco Inferno.”

Thankfully, with age comes wisdom. The business suits shrank and were given away, the hairstyles were toned down and several luxury cruises later both Dad and Mom have reasonable and attractive wardrobes. Disco has been replaced with leisurely walks and “The Wave” has been replaced by a friendly hug.  Both have aged gracefully and have gently drawn together.

But there is much more to my parents than fashion. They taught me to be honest and fair in all dealings with others. They taught me a strong work ethic. They taught me to keep my word. They taught me to have faith in others and look for the good. They taught me compassion for people and animals, plants and all living things. (I remember planting time in the garden, and Dad patiently instructing all the kids to put the bean seeds ‘two fingers apart’ in the rows.)

I will leave you one more memory of the good role models they have been and how lucky I am to be their kid. In October 2000, my Scottish Dance Troupe from Des Moines came to perform at an outdoor setting in Cedar Rapids. It was a miserable, cold and rainy day. There was barely a handful of people in the audience. As the parade marched around in the mud and pouring rain, there were Mom and Dad, bundled in raincoats, hats and umbrellas enthusiastically cheering us on. Everyone in my dance troupe remarked at how impressed they were that my parents were there, braving the weather and applauding with all their might. It never even occurred to me that they wouldn’t be there. They attended every single event any of us were in. They always supported us in our activities.

So happy anniversary to a trend-setting couple that was always ahead of their time, and parents who taught us how to have fun and be gracious and kind.

Love,
Karen