April Makeover Winner Indulges in Well-Deserved Me Time

In her recent memory, Vera Rush only got haircuts when a stylist friend of hers dropped by for a visit, and even then it was usually just for a trim.

She's also never gotten a makeover before in her life.

Who has the time these days? In between her job as an Enumclaw School District school bus driver and being a mother of two, a grandmother of four (fifth on the way) and a fur mom of two dogs, Rush said she's usually tapped out before the week is over and searching for pop and energy drinks to help keep her going.

Rush is the first to admit that she is terrible at taking care of herself though recently has cut the pop from her diet and added an exercise routine to her schedule to feel better physically.

It was this drive to take care of those around her that spurred Rush's daughter, Jennifer Morley to nominate her mother for the , which is provided by Enumclaw's Sleek Hair Design and Skin Deep that is housed in .

Morley explained in her nomination of her mother that she had spent a good seven months or so at her father's bedside after he was diagnosed with end-stage cancer -- it was lung cancer, Rush clarified -- and cared for him every step of the way through his treatment and battle, which he ultimately lost in February 2011.

"My mom is the strongest woman i know," Morley wrote. "Her strength is a true inspiration and example of the human soul. She is always there to help anyone, she never says i cant or no. I wish she made more time for herself."

Rush did carve out about four hours for her makeover Saturday, thanks to Morley's winning nomination for the month of April. Patch caught up with mom after she'd enjoyed a facial treatment ("I feel spoiled," she said) and was in the process of having her hair colored and cut.

Of her need to stay busy, Rush said it is in part a way for her to cope with losing her husband, Jim, of 18 years. It's been more than a year since he died, and Rush speaks easily about her life with the generous and thoughtful man who, though he was not the biological father of her children, took them in anyway and raised them as his own.

Jim was her second husband. He had wooed her when they worked together at Boeing, and she began dating him the Wednesday following the Saturday she had kicked her abusive ex-husband out of the house, she said.

Over the years, the couple enjoyed their life together including indulging in Seahawks season tickets, their mutual love of woodworking and road trips that ended in surprise gifts like an Ellensburg blue agate ring.

With his passing, reminders of Jim remain in Rush's home, including the wooden birdfeeders they had crafted together. She has no desire to continue to do woodworking without him and is still working her way to years of collected memories in order to process her loss and to move forward.

"It was a pretty tough year," she admits. She took time off from work in between Jim's diagnosis in August 2010 and his passing in February 2011 to care for him. At present, daughter Morley and her own daughter both live with Rush. "I'd be lost without them there."

But not all reminders of Jim are sad ones. Rush continues to wear a white lung cancer bracelet on her right wrist -- it belonged to Jim. And though she says she's not particularly religious, she does believe that in a way, her beloved is still with her and makes it known to her through another mutual love: the band Journey.

Rush recounted two inexplicable instances in which Journey's music began to play. Once, she had been in her car driving on what would have been Jim's birthday when the station skipped channels to a Journey song. Later, on the anniversary of their first date, a radio that she didn't think was on at all was again, playing Journey.

For whatever that's worth, one of her favorite songs is "Don't Stop Believin."

These days, Rush's typical routine involves shuttling her grandchildren between school, home and assorted activities, caring for her dogs, and carving out Wednesday nights each week for her and her alone to spend time with her girlfriends.

Of her family and friends who were taking her out for dinner following the makeover, Rush said, "They helped me through this year. I'd do anything to help them that I can."

Even if it means being exhausted at the end of each week? "I wouldn't have it any other way," she said.

Enter the Contest

Through the rest of the year, Sleek Hair Design and Skin Deep will be selecting one winner each month to receive this makeover package. To enter, simply tell us in 500 words or less, why you or someone you know (must be 18 years of age or older) deserves this free makeover package. Send your nomination to Enumclaw Patch Local Editor April Chan at april.chan@patch.com by the 10th of each month and the winning entry qualifies for the makeover that month.

Our next contest deadline is May 10, but why wait until then? Get your entries in today!

See complete rules attached to this story.