JULY 11, 2025 ON MY CORNER MEET YOUR VENDOR What's your best Ann Arbor Art Fair tip? Don't go overboard spending money. Put a budget on your spending! — Joe Woods, #103 Put on your most interesting face, and see what happens then. — Wayne Sparks, #615 Start on Main Street, go up Liberty, go down State Street up to North U, then come back down to the clock tower. — Cindy Gere #279 Make sure you know ahead of time where the bathrooms, free water and places to sit down are. — Felicia Wilbert #234 Keep hydrated and find shade. — Mike Jones, #113 Stay the heck away— if anything, go for a half day. It’s always gonna storm. — Snap, #205 Dress colorfully. — Shawn Swoffer, #574 Walk slow and don’t try to rush. — Denise Shearer, #485 July 1992 — it was the start of a great day. Cleo awoke at 7 a.m., anticipating a new hair client and making $400. Her client lived on the second floor of her building. Cleo was happy not having to travel that morning in the LA traffic. Cleo's client, Corey, requested having her hair braided; however, she had a two-month-old baby and was concerned about being in a salon all day getting her hair done. Fortunately for her, Cleo offered private services. Cleo went upstairs and knocked on Corey's door. She slouched to the door dragging her feet, finally opened the door and said good morning. Cleo looked at her hair and her clothing, thinking this young lady really needs a helping hand. Cleo clearly saw that Corey was depressed. Cleo said, "Good morning sweetheart, it's going to be a blessed day. Let's get moving.” However, Corey was still slow-dragging. As Cleo looked around her house, she noticed that the baby was not there. She also noticed that Corey didn't have any furniture. There was only a dining room table with four chairs, a full size bed and a baby bed. Cleo was relieved they didn't have to keep stopping to attend to the baby. She asked where the baby was at out of concern. Corey said, "With her grandmother, of course. I don't know how long it will take. I didn't want you to have to keep stopping.” Cleo asked Corey, “How about we do a makeover today?” Corey smiled and said, "What? Okay, do what you do. I will trust you!” Cleo said, “I'll be right back.” GROUNDCOVER NEWS Truth or Lies: Sisterly Love a sofa set please. That's my gift to the baby.” Corey was so amazed she was almost in tears. Cleo laughed and said, "Now don't start crying because you'll mess up your makeup.” Corey said, “I must take FELICIA WILBERT Groundcover vendor No. 234 She hurried to her apartment, walked over to her closet, selected three dresses, two pairs of matching sandals and retrieved her makeup kit. Cleo walked back to the apartment upstairs, made a makeshift station on the table and began to work. She quickly braided the young lady's hair in six hours, which normally takes longer. Corey said, “I never had my hair braided so fast and it's too beautiful. How did you make my hair feel so light? Before when I had my hair braided, my braids were very heavy. I would always take them out within two weeks.” Cleo styled Corey's hair in medium size, long individual braids. She got a $400 hairdo and a $250 makeover. After applying her makeup, Cleo gave Corey eyelashes and a pair of earrings. Corey selected a long dress with red, blue and yellow abstract flowers detailing the dress. When she got dressed and looked in the mirror, Corey was amazed. She said, "Wow, I look like I stepped out of a magazine! Thank you so much. Here is your money. How much more do I owe you?” Cleo said to her, “I'll just take $100; you keep the rest and buy you pictures.” "Yes," Cleo said, “so I can put it in my portfolio.” Corey wanted to go outside to walk and get some ice cream. Cleo told her, “Well, you better get ready for a new day because you're about to experience something you never have before.” As they approached Eighth and Alvarado Street in LA, a Spanish man on the sidewalk started whistling and shouting. “Beautiful señoritas! Beautiful señoritas!" He raised his hands, gesturing to others to move out the way, parting the sidewalk. Corey was so tickled she said to Cleo, "Wow, I've never had that kind of treatment before!" Cleo said, “That’s every day for me. It's all about the walk, the talk, and the way you dress. It's how you carry yourself, that's how men will treat you.” Corey was feeling so elated. She quickly snapped out of the depressive state of mind she was feeling earlier. She wanted to pay for the makeover and the clothing. Fortunately, Cleo said to her, “That's what sisters do for one another. When you're feeling sad, we’re supposed to cheer you up and that should cost you nothing.” “Can we go look at furniture?“ asked Corey. “If only everyone in the world felt that way, it would be a better place.” 3 Letting go of the past to save my future CHAD NAUGLE Groundcover contributor I’ve been doing a lot of thinking 12/31/2025 lately — about who I was, who I thought I’d be, and where I’m actually going. Somewhere along the line, I realized I’ve been dragging around old hopes and dreams like baggage I’m afraid to let go of. They used to be sources of motivation. Now, they’re holding me back. It’s hard to admit, but the version of my life I imagined years ago doesn’t fit the person I am today. I keep chasing goals that no longer reflect my values or reality, stuck in a loop of "what should’ve been" instead of embracing what could still be. And by clinging so tightly to the past, I’ve been sabotaging my future without even realizing it. Growth means being honest with yourself — even when it hurts. It means letting go of the dreams that no longer serve you so you can make room for the ones that do. I’m learning that release isn’t failure. It’s freedom. If you’re holding onto an outdated version of your life like I was, I hope this helps you see it’s okay to let go. You’re allowed to change. You’re allowed to start again. And your future deserves the real you, not a shadow of who you once hoped to be. Time to turn the page.
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