When I was young, every other week or so our doorbell would ring. "Avon calling" a cheery voice would call out, and there on the porch would be The Avon Lady, holding her satchel of goods to peddle, wearing her big, lipsticked smile. Our mom would invite The Avon Lady into our (perennially messy) living room and while they visited for the next 20 minutes or so, I'd comb through the new catalog of Avon products she'd brought with her.
I think my mom enjoyed the adult conversation, even though I'm sure The Avon Lady would have preferred to just get an order and be on her way. But with five kids underfoot who could blame my mom? Every now and then she would actually place an order, meaning that the next visit would include not just the item ordered, but a free sample of some product too. Free stuff was so exciting!
The Avon Lady's bi-weekly visit was always a highlight in my hum drum childhood. She had these tiny little tubes of lipstick that she'd give us sometimes. At about an inch tall, they were even better than regular ones because they were just soooo cute! I'd use them when playing dress up. Sometimes we got to try on sweet perfumes and lotions. I was drawn like a raccoon to the shiny jewelery selection, but it was SOOOOO fancy and expensive, we never got anything like that.
For a number of years, The Avon Lady's visits were more regular than the two visiting teachers from church who were supposed to visit mom every month. The Avon Lady always arrived looking fresh, coiffed, and smelling fantastic. I kind of idolized her. She seemed so glamorous and beautiful. Just like with school teachers, it never occurred to me that she was actually a regular person with a personal life. She was reduced to one role in my mind...Our Avon Lady. When she left us, for all I knew she went back to The Avon Factory till the next time she came. I just never gave it any thought.
One day I was further afield on my bicycle than I usually went. All the sudden while passing a house I saw The Avon Lady outside. She was working with a hand trowel in her flower bed, wearing shorts and a tee shirt, and her hair was tucked under a bandanna folded into a triangle (It was the 70's). I stopped, speechless, and stared at her. She noticed me after a moment and said hi. I remember trying to explain that I didn't know she had a house. She laughed and said that yes, she lived there. I was in awe.
It was that moment that I think I realized that everyone, even my school teachers, must have houses and lives outside the role they were playing in my life. What a crazy concept! It made me wonder if even Santa had a regular job during the rest of the year too? The experience totally rocked my world!
With Avon, You Never Looked So Good!
4 comments:
aw, that's a great story. I never actually have heard a real Avon lady say, "Avon calling!" I wasn't even sure if they actually did that. I thought maybe it was just in the movies! I'm glad to know it's a real phenomenon. :o)
Do you remember the little animal pins that you pinned to your shirt. But they opened up and there was lip gloss inside. Sooooo cool! I saved my money for one and was so excited when I finally got it (I couldn't have been older than 6).
I remember seeing my elementary school principal at Lagoon and at the movies ... in a leather jacket, nonetheless! My friend and I couldn't believe it! And we thought he was so cool because he WAS in fact so normal.
i loved those mini-lipstick tubes. they were phenomenal. our avon lady was my next door neighbor. i was a very pretty princess as a small child because her daughter and i got all the samples. blue eyeshadow to my eyebrows with maroon cheeks and fuschia lips. i was hot.
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