Saturday, July 14, 2007

Hair: Sunday Scribblings

Here is my "Sunday Scribbling contribution to this week's topic, "Hair." Yeah, I know, I'm posting this a few hours early...
I started out with no hair. As a baby they called me Ike, after the President Eisenhower. We were both bald. I got my first hair cut when I was two. From what I was told, I didn’t need it, but it seemed the right thing to do since my brother, who is 18 months younger than me, needed a hair cut. It seems from the beginning I was playing catch up. He’s also five inches taller than me! I had long hair for a while as a kid, but my dad never let it get too out of control. Then I thought I might want to go into the military and took Jr. ROTC in High School. I had to get a hair cut. It was a mistake, or more probably it was a time of great learning. My friends in ROTC, who couldn’t understand my liberal views on certain things, named me Fidel (that was even before my beard). My other friends, mostly involved in debate, couldn’t understand my interest in the military and called me JB (John Birch). When I got out of ROTC and decided I’d had enough of saluting folks who did deserve it and vowed not to cut my hair for at least a year. And I didn't get a hair cut for 13 months, and might have become a Samson had it not been for the fact that my Afro (which is what my curly hair turned into in the hot muggy south) was just too darn hot. So I got it cut and throughout the rest of the seventies and mid-80s, my hair stayed a respectful length for the era.

I’m not sure when I started losing my hair. When I was my late 20s, I decided to head for Pittsburgh for more schooling. I was telling my plans to the young woman who had been cutting my hair for a few years. When she was done, instead of telling me the regular price, she cut it in half saying she didn’t have to cut any off the top. I don’t remember if I tipped her or not, but I hope not. Such comments shouldn’t be rewarded. It was about that time that I discovered that even if my hair wasn’t growing on my head, the bottom 40 (around my face) still produced a good crop. After growing and shaving a few beards, I stopped shaving all together and gave away my soap and brush (I hated using canned shaving cream). Next summer, my current beard will be 20 years old. If I shaved it, I could probably become an Ike impersonator and for that reason alone, I think I’ll keep it.

A couple years ago a friend here (or I should say former friend here, for friends don’t comment on one’s lack of hair), gave me the shirt in the picture. He worked in research at a local pharmaceutical company that manufactures, among other things, Rogaine.

25 comments:

  1. Very funny! Aging ain't for the feint of heart

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  2. On a semi-related kinda note..its funny you should mention Eisenhower. I just found a bunch of stamps with his picture on them as I was cleaning.

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  3. Diane, I hope I have more than a feint of heart so that little pump will keep on ticking for some time to come...

    Mistress, was he bald on the stamps?

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  4. Sage - I loved your post, and I feel you brother... I'm right there with you!

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  5. Well since I'm your friend, I guess I can't comment on your lack of hair in some places, and the abundance of hair in other places...didn't I once hear that you shaved a number or something into your back? Blame your partner for telling me that dirty little secret.....but since I'm your friend I won't mention it, especially in public like this. I promise.

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  6. Rather a long post about ...err..lack of hair!!

    *grin*

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  7. thanks Rob, it's good to get a little empathy around here (especially after reading the next two posts)

    Dark Angel: I'm not sure what kind of mushrooms the two of you were consuming--I HAVE NEVER SHAVED A NUMBER ON MY BACK OR ANY OTHER PART OF MY BODY

    Gautami: Gee, I'm getting no respect. That's a Murf-like comment.

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  8. That look is very cool in Europe, although the t shirt may pass uncommented.

    Hair today, via Michele!
    rashbre

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  9. Well obviously you're making the most of your assets. Most women I know don't know why men make such a big deal about hair or the lack of it - it really doesn't matter to us, unless it's one of those annoying comb-overs. And nobody I know appreciates those! :)

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  11. 've seen a picture of you with hair (and a red sweatband). I prefer the hairless variety. In fact, I think you should just shave it all off and become a blonde Shel Silverstein. :-)

    Big A gave up the fight on hair in his late twenties and has shaved it all off since. When he shaved off his facial hair once as well, I told him that he looked like a fetus. His mother overheard and laughed until she cried but later I found out that was because she thought I had said 'penis'.

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  12. I can't wait to grow older! Love the pic!

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  13. I hope you didn't tip that rude barber. Overly chatty hair cutters could make me forgo haircuts altogether.

    Stay strong. If my family hairline is any indication of the future, I will be joining you and Rob in a few years. No sense in fighting it.

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  14. I only eat high quality Mushrooms, and I don't think your Mrs. would approve of such things....

    Does that mean you COULD shave a number in your back should the spirit move you to do so?

    Its inevitable as the tides...

    I'd better stop talking about this, I don't want to embarass you.

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  15. Rashbre, some gifts you give to the Salvation Army, that T-shirt was given to my brother!

    Paris, thanks for the compliment (making the most of my assets)

    Murf, that pic of me you refer to is at the end of the Appalachian Trail--one of the highlights of my life. I notice that Guatami is taking over from you as the one who doles out smart-A remarks!

    Scarlet, there's a lot of truth to the old cliche, "getting old is better than the alternative"

    Herb, I probably did tip her, she was cute even if a bit rude....

    Bad, Bad Dark Angel...

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  16. At least you won't need a hat or a hairdresser when your on boat ride like me and my sister!

    I loved this. I think the Red Sox won the World Series because of the Sampson-like hair they all grew, representing the liberal working class of Boston against the Wall Street pin striped NY suits.

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  17. Your post made me smile. Thanks for that. Love the photo!

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  18. I probably should feel bad that sweet, little Gautami has turned into me...but I don't. Someone will have to talk to you like I do should I ever decide to take a vacation. :-)

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  19. I don't mind the lack of hair. It is when it starts growing in unwanted places that really scare me. One uncle has nose hair that he could comb and another person I know has some growing in his ear. If I could just keep it to my jaw line, I would be terribly happy.

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  20. Someone else said it...it's the comb over that looks dumb, not the lack of hair.

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  21. I have not turned into anyone, nor do I intend to.

    That is just me. How long can sty staid on your blog?

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  22. Gautami, glad to hear that you're not changing! And don't be too serious here, none of the rest of us are that way!

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  23. Ike impersonator? That's hysterical

    Love your life as seen through your hair--and recipes above

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  24. Such comments shouldn’t be rewarded.

    Indeed. I mean, I wouldn't have even gone back to her. Why pay someone to give you comments about thinning hair when you can get them for free at a family reunion :)

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