STILL GROOMING AT 69

GROOMING AT 69

YIKES!  How did this happen?  It’s my birthday and I’m sixty NINE years old.  Where did the years go?  What do I have to say for myself and what can I share about working as a senior groomer? 

I’ve been grooming since I was thirty one, and I’ve owned my business since I was thirty seven.  Being this old has some great perks and equally great drawbacks.  The greatest advantage is that I get more respect.  My physical appearance speaks of experience and wisdom.  I like that.  I don’t like HOW I look, but I like how my clients react to me - It’s like instant credibility. 

The other really fun part of grooming at this age is that I have become very good at grooming.  Last week, one of my OWN grooms took my breath away.  Now that’s common for me at dog shows or grooming competitions when I see fantastic looking dogs, but usually when I look at my own work, I am critical. I think, “Not quite there, Bird.”  Nowadays I have to shut up and accept that my work is excellent. 

My personal learning curve has been slow and sporadic.  I was fortunate to have a very masterful mentor under whom I apprenticed, Bill “Scissorhands” North, a local legend.  His artistic eye and extraordinary styling and scissoring skills both inspired and intimidated me.  Most of all he provided a visual standard against which I still measure my grooming today.  There were years and years, decades really, when I felt I would never measure up.  I had several flat spots or plateaus in my learning process where I thought I had topped out and was as good as I could be. Fortunately, this was not so.  Something would come along to inspire another growth spurt, a challenge of a new breed, attending a dog show, watching a grooming competition, attending a clinic.  Photographing my own work and working on certification as a master groomer helped improve my grooming skills.

On the downside of 69, there is my body.  Thirty-eight years of this work have taken a severe toll.  I should own stock in Advil, as I certainly support the company.  My hands hurt all the time.  I hate to even tell you about my back, it is so bad.  Five years ago my chiropractor looked at my x-rays and told me that I had the back of an 85-year old.  He was no longer comfortable adjusting me.  Unfortunately, the fragile condition of my back means that any form of exercise can throw me into a bout of excruciating sciatica.  Almost any grooming on my feet can render me crippled at the end of the day. 

If I had it to do over, I would take better care of my body.  Pet grooming is a physically demanding occupation.  Equipment like anti-fatigue mats and supportive shoes seemed so b.o.r.i.n.g. when I was younger.  Nowadays I can’t stand on a concrete floor for 15 minutes without suffering, and I can’t even think of wearing anything other than orthopedic shoes.  Please let me tell you this: If you are intending to groom for longer than 4-5 years, and/or you want to groom past age 60, then it is vitally important that you take care of your body today.  The kind of accumulated stress injuries and wear and tear degradation that we endure from pet grooming cannot be undone later. There are no “do-overs” of your body.  

There are a few measures that I have taken to take care of myself which I think have extended my productive grooming life:

·         Sitting down to groom is one that I wish I had done sooner rather than later. If I had sat down more from the beginning, my back would be much less messed up today.

·         The Hanvey LIPS system of over-the-table restraints, especially the flank strap has made a big difference in my ability to survive. Leaning over a table or tub and struggling with dogs is debilitating.

·         A Bathing Beauty recirculation bathing system has saved my hands for more important work on the table.

·         Using small trimmers, such as the Laube Speed Feed or the Wahl Tidbit for feet and small jobs has helped me manage the arthritis in my hands. 

·         Using a variety of small tools, scissors, brushes, combs, has also helped my hands survive.

·         Committing to managing stress – external and internal.  I have learned to recognize those things that are stressful for me, including toxic internal dialogue.  This helps me prevent meltdowns and dysfunction.  One example is that I recognize that I no longer have tolerance for disorganization at my table.  I look at the book each day and see what dogs I will be grooming, put together the tools I will need, and put away everything else.  That way I don’t have to have a little fit three hours later when I can’t find my yellow stripping knife. 

·         Managing expectations and treating myself like a fine racehorse instead of a mule.  Simply put, there have been times when I pushed myself beyond reason instead of honoring my limits.  Don’t do this….okay?

 

Comments

[mary]

Happy Birthday!!!!