Emme has decided she doesn't want straight hair anymore. Her pictures don't do it justice, but she has the most beautiful blonde hair - the kind of hair women pay LOTS of money to get. Honey blonde, with highlights of every shade. And it's straight - the kind of thick, straight hair I'd love to have. When her hair is bobbed, and she swings her head, it flings around in one sheet - like something you'd see in a Pantene commercial. Really. And it's not even computer-enhanced (and yes, her bangs are supposed to look like that - according to her hairdresser - she goes to a hairdresser that charges more than mine - those are side bangs and are VERY fashionable right now. Uh huh).

The result of this is that we spend half an hour each and every evening now rolling her hair. I just can't face curling it with an iron every morning. It's turned into a really great ritual. After bath, and before reading, we climb on my bed and I comb and roll her beautiful hair. Sometimes we talk, sometimes we watch Hannah Montana - but it's always just the two of us - while Jake works on homework or plays a video game downstairs.

I grew up in a time when women - ALL women - either had their hair done in a salon or did it themselves once a week. Daily hair washing and styling really didn't come into vogue until I was in junior high....really. Hole-y macaroni, that makes me feel old. But it's absolutely true. I know that women drenched their hair in styling lotion that was full of chemicals that kept the curls in for more than one good night's sleep. I never, ever, thought that I would see rollers again....I remember my mom curling my hair up in pink, spongy curlers for every special occasion. Oh, they felt soft to the touch - until I laid my head down upon the pillow - then the plastic part that held the sponge dug into my head....I spent miserable nights tossing and turning, trying to get comfortble, but I was so proud of my hair the next few days! Just like a grown-up...

Emme's been begging for curly hair, so when I found rollers that have a soft, spongy middle, but have wire through the middle to fasten them, I picked up a package - no restless nights for my girl. They were surprisingly easy to get the hang of. And she loves them.

The other night, during one of our talks, the subject of jobs came up. Up until now, her heart's desire has been to be a doctor fairy princess when she grows up. I have NEVER dampened her spirits with the knowledge that there are darn few schools that offer the major she's looking for. And none in Redding....I'm not having her fly off to some far-off, imaginary land to go to university!

I figured I'd wait until she's older to tell her she's as likely to have that profession as she is to be a super hero (one of her brother's aspirations - along with owning a school to teach people how to play video games).

So, when the subject arose, I asked if she was still planning on taking care of sick people while wearing a tiara and wings. She said no.

She said, "I want to serve people drinks at Red Robin."

My daughter, the bartender. She can stay right here at home. This is exactly the kind of thing that makes a mother's heart sing. Well, that - and this picture.