AIDS Issues Update: Charles King Blogs: Shear Madness:
Today’s the Big Haircut!
Wow, today is the big day! It hit me as a combed out and twisted my ponytail this morning. Ha! My head is going to feel lighter that’s for sure. Yes, I am finally getting nervous about the big snip.
“What do you do for a ponytail on its last night? Are you taking it out for one last steak dinner?” We had just finished a serious budget conversation, and Dr. David Cohen, Housing Works’ Board Chair was getting in a shot. “Very funny,” is my witty retort. To myself I think, “Thank God I am not follicle-challenged. Whatever happens, it can always grow back.”
There are actually some silver linings to this. No longer will my bathtub drain get clogged every morning. Long stray hairs on the bed will be a thing of the past. People will not be able to so easily see that I am irritated, as twisting the tail is always a dead give away. And bathing on my next trip to Haiti is going to be so much simpler. The next time I get into a barroom brawl it will be one less thing for someone to grab….sigh.
This weekend I roved the hair aisle at the corner drug store. I generally stock up on cream rinse and hair ties. This time I look at all the sprays and gels. There are rows of them. I’m blown away. How does one know which one to use? None of this existed when I was still getting haircuts.
Maybe folk will vote for the shaved head. I think I could do that. It’s a good thing I wear a hat, because sunburn would be a real problem. A crew cut, on the other hand, would be a real bummer. I would probably look the spitting image of my dad. Talk about trauma!
The rebel in me likes the Mohawk. Go ahead; make it a three-colored Mohawk. I’ll wax it up, maybe twist some spikes in it and still wear my suit and tie. Now where is my invitation to the White House? Hell, you want an aging Farrah Fawcett? Go ahead, vote for some feathery thing. See if I care! I’ll even do the mullet if I have to. I guess that means I’d have to get a hair dryer.
Don’t tell anybody, but I am going to bring my own checkbook tonight. People better come prepared to bid high, ‘cause nobody is going to make me look like a fool without me having a say in it!
Your inside source for in-depth activism news is updated daily by Staff Writer, Julie Turkewitz
