August 25th, 2020

The salon, or beauty shop where I have successfully been getting my hair attended to for the past 4+ years is right here on the island.  Which is exactly where I was looking for it.  Knowing as you do (by now) how much I hate to drive, it is logical that I would concentrate my search within my comfort driving zone - which is admittedly very small.

But I got lucky and on only the 2nd try, I found Venice Day Spa and Carolyn, my amazing hairdresser, and life has been easy peasy hair-wise every since.  The salon is in the same plaza as our grocery store so it was easy to find with loads of parking if I should happen to drive instead of walk.  And life was good.

But since we've lived here, we have watched as one business after another has left that plaza.    When we first arrived, there was only one storefront that was empty.  And slowly, one by one, the doors shuttered and the businesses have disappeared.  Some merely relocated (off-island dang it) others seem to have vanished altogether.  Now the plaza is about half empty. (which of course also means half full, but you know what I mean).

So when I recently walked to the store instead of taking the car and I strolled past the salon I was dismayed but not truly surprised to see a big sign in the window that said, "We Are Moving".  Ratz.  Of course that's all it said.  There was no when or where on the sign.  I was very VERY curious, but I also  knew that I had an appointment coming up soon.  I decided that if they didn't mentioned it that day, I would.  No reason to panic.  Although I confess I was concerned.

The ideas that rambled through my brain!  Were they closing altogether?  Were they leaving for a different town?  Would they stay on island or move off?  If off, how far off?  How difficult or easy would it be to get there? On no!  I would have to find a new salon.  And what if I dont' find another place I like?  I'll have to give up getting my hair done altogether.  I'll grow it back out really long and wear it in braids and ponytails like I used to a long time ago and that way I'll save money too!   Yup I went that far. Drama much?   Please note how all of my questions were very selfish and self-serving.  Apparently I am a horrible person. But hey, at least I'm honest about it.  

I tried to just not think about it.  Soon enough, I would know the answer and then I would deal with what ever the new reality was. One way or another, there would be a solution.  That much I knew.

It so happened that on the morning of my hair appointment there was a big article in the local paper about how the business as moving.  And while the article didn't give a specific address, it did list the name of the new street.  Cockrill St.    Cockrill St.?  I've lived here now for more than 4 years and I thought I had walked every single road at least once and I had no memory of a Cockrill St.  Which lead me to believe that the move must be off island.  Dang.  Resigned and more than a little sad, I went to my appointment a few hours later.

As I'm sitting in the chair, Carolyn hard at work on my hair, I began, "So I understand that you are moving.......?"   She confirmed that they were and how much bigger, nicer of a place it was going to be.  She also told me that the newspaper article go the street wrong. (How does a responsible newspaper get that wrong?)  She assured me that they were staying on island (whew!) and the street name is, '"The Rialto".  Yeah, they have streets with names like that here.  

​So that's a couple of pieces of good news.  First of all, I know where The Rialto is.  It's over by the hospital. And second of all (and best of all) It's on island.  Hurrah!  My stress level just smoothed right over.  Carolyn also told me that they were moving mid-September which means that for my next appointment in October, I will be going to the new place.  Exciting!

When I checked out, I made my next appointment (as I always do) and the appointment card had the new address on it.  775 The Rialto.  I decided that I ought to find exactly where on The Rialto, number 775 is.  Seems reasonable, right?

So I headed over toward the hospital and turned onto The Rialto.  I drove as slowly as was courteous to drivers behind me, and...couldn't find it.  Dang.  So when I got to the end of the street, I turned around and tried again.  All in all, I tried three times before calling it quits.

Here's the problem.  Venice Island is an adorably quirky place.  Sometimes things are a little willy nilly.  It's usually part of the charm but once in awhile a little bit of a pain in the arse.  The numbers could be anywhere.  On the mailbox, (assuming that there is a mailbox  - it's not a requirement), or over the garage, or on the front door or painted on a rock on the side of the driveway or..well anywhere.  And none of the numbers are the same.  Big, small, different colours, different fonts, different, well just different. 

And this particular street, at one time, was all residential so with the exception of a church, it's still 99% buildings that look like houses.  Some of them actually are houses, some have been turned into businesses.  Like I said, quirky.

And then there was the issue with the house numbers, when I could find them.  They didn't make sense.  They seemed to jump around from the 400's to the 800's with big weird gaps.  What on earth is going on?

I decided that it's just too hard to drive AND look for this address at the same time.  New plan.  I would go home, put on sunscreen and my sneakers and walk back.  I see so much more detail when I'm walking. " I will absolutely be able to find this on foot", I sez to myself.

So as soon as I got home, I left my purse on my desk chair, put my cellphone in my pocket and grabbed socks and sneakers.  I was determined and a little excited to have a mission!  I had just finished tying my shoes when the house was filled with the sound of a giant thunder boomer.  Dang.  I went to the window and saw the sky filling up with dark ominous clouds, the wind picking up and a lightening flash or two.  Well, there went my mission. Drat.

That's when Tim pointed out to me that I could have "mapped" it on my phone and the directions would have led me right to the address.  What an idiot I am.  The thought absolutely never once crossed my mind.  We looked it up on my computer to get the general idea and sonovagun..there it was...Cockrill St.  The new address is on the corner of The Rialto and Cockrill St.  I'll be darned!  It  does exist!

Over the weekend we did a drive-by.  I know now exactly where it is, what it looks like and have accessed the parking situation. (When I say that I'm not a good driver I mean I'm also not a good parker of cars.  The parking situation is an important factor)

It's all good.  My hair is saved.