(This one follows directly from the Spa Day chapter, and is a bit short)
Joan and her friends slept in late, eventually getting up and having some coffee. They all showered together, soaping each other up and gently washing each other off. The women had brunch at the hotel restaurant and checked out.
Amanda dropped Joan off at her house. Harry was waiting for her and gave her a hug and a kiss.
"Happy Birthday, babe," said Harry. "You have a good time?"
"You have no idea," said Joan, returning the kiss. "I almost didn't want to come home, and just shack up with the girls."
"Oh really?"
"Yeah but then I remembered you were footing the bill and decided to come home."
"Well, that's good," said Harry, laughing.
"So you still need me out of your hair for awhile?"
"Just until six. I've got to get a few things ready." Harry took Joan's overnight bag from her and set it on the porch.
"Okay. Sylvia is going to meet me at the museum at 1:00, then I've got a haircut with Bridget."
Harry kissed Joan and held her tight, then let her go.
"Love you. Happy Birthday."
Joan took her car and drove to the museum. Sylvia was waiting for her and greeted her with a hug.
"Happy birthday. I'm sorry I couldn't be there last night."
"That's okay. Happy anniversary! Did you and Leonard have a good time?"
"Oh yes," Sylvia chuckled. "I wore him out."
Joan had been to the museum countless times, but this was her first time with her own personal art historian. Sylvia was more knowledgeable of 20th century and contemporary artists, but she had knowledgeable things to say about the old masters and others, pointing out techniques and styles in ways Joan had never thought about.
They stopped for coffee at the museum's restaurant and talked about their husbands, their lives, and getting older.
"When I was 25 I thought I knew everything there is to know. When I turned 50 I realized I had so much more to discover. Curiosity doesn't keep you young, it keeps you alive."
After they finished their coffee Joan said goodbye to Sylvia with a soft, passionate kiss.
"We need to play again sometime," said Sylvia. "Please send Harry our love."
After parting with Sylvia, Joan drove to Bridget's salon. Bridget greeted her with a hug and a kiss and led her to a chair.
"So you ever seduce a customer?" Joan asked with a smile. Bridget laughed.
"No, but I've had more than a few lovers come in as customers. So what were you thinking of getting today?"
"I'm in for a pretty major change, to be honest." She ran her fingers through her shoulder-length hair. "Show no mercy."
"I've got just the thing for you."
Bridget cut Joan's hair short, clipping the sides but leaving enough on top to be styled.
Then she put some warm shaving soap on the nape of Joan's neck.
"This is probably unnecessary but trust me, it feels great." Bridget then took a straight razor and with swift, firm strokes shaved off any stray hairs on Joan's neck.
Bridget put some gel in the hair on the top of Joan's head and styled it with her fingers.
"You can also slick it back with some pomade, it'll look good."
Joan looked at herself in the mirror. She looked slightly masculine, and she liked that. She paid with her credit card and then gave Bridget a kiss and a hug.