Tuesday, October 17, 2006

A Touch of Grey

By Kanrei

It was sitting on the tip of my chinny chin-chin this morning or should I say mourning. It looked like a piece of lint or a stray string from my shirt sitting there entangled in my goatee. I had to strain to see it in a mirror and, once I did, I noticed it had friends and was tragically not a piece of lint or a stray string from my shirt.

I see you've got your list out
Say your piece and get out
Yes I get the gist of it
but it's all right

I should just say it I suppose. I need to admit it to myself already so I can start accepting it. They say this is the hardest part, but how do they really know when we never know who exactly “they” are. Maybe “they” are a group of babbling idiots just string words together devoid of any real meaning or context. Just because “they” say it does not make it so…

I am procrastinating. I just need to type the words and be done with it. I have grey hairs in my goatee. There are currently five or six of the little bastards just beaming out in the midst of a sea of dark brown. I knew old age was slowly overtaking me for a few years now, but this was the first sign that I could actually see. Is this how it starts?
Sorry that you feel that way
The only thing there is to say
Every silver lining's got a
Touch of grey

My hair began quitting their posts a few years ago. I am not bald or even close to it, but there is a very nice start to a friar’s patch on the top of my head. A Yamika would cover it nicely if my vanity ever drives me to Orthodoxy I am set. Luckily I never have to see the landing pad so it does not bother me too often. Only in pictures from behind actually and I stopped mooning tourists a few days ago.

These chin insurgents are not the first of their kind to appear either. The lady who cuts my hair is kind enough to update me on each and every new one she finds as she clips and shortens. I always smile and tell her that each grey one has decided to stick around a few more years. It was the dark ones that had not decided what they wanted that I did not trust. Until today grey hair was my friend, now it is a street sign on the road to senility.
It's a lesson to me
The Ables and the Bakers and the C's
The ABC's we all must face
And try to keep a little grace

My goatee was off limits to them and I really thought we had an understanding about that. The goatee is a symbol of my youth. It is something I have had off and on since I could grow it. Well, since I could grow one and moved out of my parent’s house. My mom thought I looked “evil” with it and my long hair.

Regardless, I had an understanding that the hairs on my head could turn grey or fall out or do whatever they chose. Since I had long hair literally my entire life until I turned 28 I felt I had abused it enough. I cut it and had a full head of short hair for a few years knowing my time was short with it. I understood if it wanted to quit, but the goatee was something different. The goatee was mine.

The damn grey hairs are even in the “soul patch” area of the goatee so it’s not like I can just trim it and keep some facial hair. No, I got to shave it all off or let my old flag fly.
Oh well a Touch Of Grey
Kind of suits you anyway.
That was all I had to say
It's all right.

I told myself long ago that I would grow old with grace and dignity. This is my body calling me on that promise and I must keep it. I have my health and I have my mind so screw the hair. I had 28 good years of long dark hair so if it wants to fall out- so be it! If it wants to go grey- so be it! As the song says:
I will get by / I will get by
I will get by / I will survive


Lyrics from "Touch of Grey"
lyrics by Robert Hunter
music by Jerry Garcia

12 comments:

Serena said...

Aw, poor baby. I'm trying not to laugh at your impending "old age." You're what, 35? Wait another 20 years, then you can start saying the "aging" word. What you have are baby grays. They're just experimenting, rebeling, pushing the envelope to see what you'll do to them. If you love your goatee and soul patch, I wouldn't shave. If it goes gray, you'll look distinguished. Maybe it'll be a little salt and pepper; still distinguished. Don't sweat the small stuff, kiddo. You're only 35 -- still a youngun.

Unknown said...

But, but, but how is a grey hair small stuff? You did read that right I hope...GREY HAIR!!!

Serena said...

I know. Grey hairs. But -- but you're only 35. You can shave the grey hairs instead of running in horror to the L'Oreal aisle.:)

Rex Zeitgeist said...

I am in a similar situation.....I have some gray srpouting up all over and I have to decied if I will alllow it to go gray or to dye it Grecian Formula.....I actually took the step of buying the hair dye, but haven't used it yet.....


Decisions, decision.....I am more worried about the weird haris croppping up on my neck and back.....WHATS THAT ALL ABOUT?

Unknown said...

Osmosis Jones explains that. When the head of the Hair union goes to see the mayor of the body he complains that his union brothers are losing their jobs by the thousands each day. The mayor told him not to worry because they were arranging for work on the back to make up for it.

Unknown said...

I look at my parents and realize that 65 is not old while 35 very well may be.

Rex Zeitgeist said...

You are only as old as you feel....Like me, at age 94....

Hey Steve I can't beleive they fired Maccha.....What was Billy Beane thinking?

Rex Zeitgeist said...

You are only as old as you feel....Like me, at age 94....

Hey Steve I can't beleive they fired Maccha.....What was Billy Beane thinking?

Serena said...

I used to think 30 was old, then 40, 50, etc. Now I just think I myself won't be officially "old" 'til I hit the 80 mark. And maybe not even then.:)

The Phantom said...

45 here. gray beard is a coming!

The Phantom

Serena said...

Nope, 45's not old, either. :)

Joe Erjavec said...

Don't sweat the grey hairs. I've been getting them for a few years, and I have been dubbed "Joey Walnuts" by one of my friends when my grey sides grow out. I think they make me look distinguished.