I felt a little guilty this morning drying my hair, muttering that it wouldn't behave the way I wanted. Big deal! It is what it is. And it is only hair.
When my hair was stick-straight, I wanted curls. Now that my hair has developed waves, I miss the days of it just laying nice and flat.
Growing up, my hair was "dishwater blond." That sure felt pretty. As I started to go "platinum," I'd occasionally get a little Miss Clairol and temporarily go back to "light golden brown." That didn't last long.
I wanted to have long hair like Laurie Partridge and Marcia Brady. Now when it gets long, I reach a point of needing to get a haircut because I'm sick of putzing with it.
Two dear women in my life have recently shaved their heads to beat chemotherapy to the punch. I believe they decided that it was better to go all at once rather than a tuft here and a handful there.
Cancer isn't the boss. Chemo isn't the boss. These women...they are the boss. They took the bull by the follicles...errr, horns and chose to take that step. Regardless of our hair color, length, or style, I will never feel as beautiful as the women who've had the courage to shave theirs off.
Samson had the right idea. There is strength in hair. But the strength isn't in letting it grow. It's in controlling when it goes.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Graduation's Coming!
OK, so The Boy's graduation from high school is still about five months away.
I don't remember really what it felt like to be a senior getting closer to college and adult life. But since August, I've been facing these...milestones that remind me my son is almost there.
I remember thinking, "This is the last time we'll register for your classes here."
Every year we've ordered a yearbook, but that was the last time we will at that school.
Senior pictures made me mist up a little. I keep comparing them to his baby pictures. He's grown into such a fine young man.
We've already had his last winter concert in high school.
Now, we just completed the order form for his class ring, graduation announcements, and (gasp!) cap and gown!
Wow.
It won't be long before he's a high-school graduate. "Pomp and Circumstance," crossing a stage, receiving a diploma, and all that.
Yes, of course I've known it was coming for a long time. But every day the concept becomes a little more concrete.
It's sort of a sensation like finding out I was pregnant all those years ago. Things basically look and feel the same way today as they did yesterday. But now it's like the "stick turned pink." In a few months, something big is going to happen and life is going to change.
Wow.
I don't remember really what it felt like to be a senior getting closer to college and adult life. But since August, I've been facing these...milestones that remind me my son is almost there.
I remember thinking, "This is the last time we'll register for your classes here."
Every year we've ordered a yearbook, but that was the last time we will at that school.
Senior pictures made me mist up a little. I keep comparing them to his baby pictures. He's grown into such a fine young man.
We've already had his last winter concert in high school.
Now, we just completed the order form for his class ring, graduation announcements, and (gasp!) cap and gown!
Wow.
It won't be long before he's a high-school graduate. "Pomp and Circumstance," crossing a stage, receiving a diploma, and all that.
Yes, of course I've known it was coming for a long time. But every day the concept becomes a little more concrete.
It's sort of a sensation like finding out I was pregnant all those years ago. Things basically look and feel the same way today as they did yesterday. But now it's like the "stick turned pink." In a few months, something big is going to happen and life is going to change.
Wow.
Friday, January 4, 2013
Happy New Year 2013
It was the best of times, it was the worst... No, that's been done before.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot... Really? Kind of cliche.
Storm cloud, silver lining... No
The sun'll come out, tomorrow... No, no
You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both, and there you have... No, no, NO theme songs!
A new year seems like the time one should post a blog entry if one considers oneself a blogger. Clearly, I'm not one to post on any sort of regular basis. But I've already skipped a Christmas post. Dare I stay silent on another major holiday?
We've got a few days of 2013 under our belts. How's it going so far? We could all count ourselves lucky that the world didn't end on December 21, if you're into believing doomsday prophecies. I'm sure there will be another date announced soon when it's predicted that everything will come to an end. Surely there is something to be said for living each day as if it's your last. Make sure people you love know how you feel, don't put off for tomorrow what you can do today, that sort of thing. And depending on your personal beliefs, you may be almost looking forward to an afterlife without the trials of this world.
The last year may have been terrible for you. I have to believe that virtually everyone has been touched in some way by a bad economy, by illness, by the death of a loved one, or by some sort of emotional trauma. Lots of people have suffered in many or all of those ways. (If you can honestly say that nothing bad happened in your life last year, then stop what you're doing right now and count your blessings!) Every January 1 has a way of giving us hope that the next year can only get better. There's no place to go but up. It just "feels" like a fresh start. Lots of people make resolutions to improve their lives starting on that date. Break a bad habit, start a good habit, change a routine, do more of one thing and less of something else. To me, that's always felt like too much pressure. If I'm going to change something about my life, it's not going to be dictated by the date on the calendar.
You also have to admit, however, that there are some things to celebrate about the previous 12 months. I tried to remind myself of that with my Thanksgiving post. I have water to drink and food to eat. I have friends and family that I love and with whom I can share my life. I may have shed tears at times during the year, but I was able to smile and laugh more often than not. If nothing else, I realize that it could always be worse...and I'm glad it's not.
So what's my point when considering a "new" year? I actually wasn't sure what to say about it when I started writing. Then I read a quotation from J.R.R. Tolkien, via Gandalf in "The Fellowship of the Ring."
Wishing you a wonderful 2013!
Should auld acquaintance be forgot... Really? Kind of cliche.
Storm cloud, silver lining... No
The sun'll come out, tomorrow... No, no
You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both, and there you have... No, no, NO theme songs!
A new year seems like the time one should post a blog entry if one considers oneself a blogger. Clearly, I'm not one to post on any sort of regular basis. But I've already skipped a Christmas post. Dare I stay silent on another major holiday?
We've got a few days of 2013 under our belts. How's it going so far? We could all count ourselves lucky that the world didn't end on December 21, if you're into believing doomsday prophecies. I'm sure there will be another date announced soon when it's predicted that everything will come to an end. Surely there is something to be said for living each day as if it's your last. Make sure people you love know how you feel, don't put off for tomorrow what you can do today, that sort of thing. And depending on your personal beliefs, you may be almost looking forward to an afterlife without the trials of this world.
The last year may have been terrible for you. I have to believe that virtually everyone has been touched in some way by a bad economy, by illness, by the death of a loved one, or by some sort of emotional trauma. Lots of people have suffered in many or all of those ways. (If you can honestly say that nothing bad happened in your life last year, then stop what you're doing right now and count your blessings!) Every January 1 has a way of giving us hope that the next year can only get better. There's no place to go but up. It just "feels" like a fresh start. Lots of people make resolutions to improve their lives starting on that date. Break a bad habit, start a good habit, change a routine, do more of one thing and less of something else. To me, that's always felt like too much pressure. If I'm going to change something about my life, it's not going to be dictated by the date on the calendar.
You also have to admit, however, that there are some things to celebrate about the previous 12 months. I tried to remind myself of that with my Thanksgiving post. I have water to drink and food to eat. I have friends and family that I love and with whom I can share my life. I may have shed tears at times during the year, but I was able to smile and laugh more often than not. If nothing else, I realize that it could always be worse...and I'm glad it's not.
So what's my point when considering a "new" year? I actually wasn't sure what to say about it when I started writing. Then I read a quotation from J.R.R. Tolkien, via Gandalf in "The Fellowship of the Ring."
All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.A fresh calendar page, a new year. The old year is done and gone. Now is the time given to us. Let's decide to spend it the best way we can. Change the world, change your address, change your diet, or change your socks. Make a difference, make a fuss, make a phone call, or make your bed. Take a trip, take a minute, or take help. Only you can decide what to do with your time. Wouldn't it be nice to make your life, or someone else's, better next December 31 than it was on January 1?
Wishing you a wonderful 2013!
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