Friday, October 10, 2008

Reprint Post: Its official: I'm Over the Hill

Its official: I'm Over the Hill
Originally Posted Tuesday April 1, 2008

I found my first gray hair.

It’s not surprising, really. I’m over, ahhm, 40, and I’ve been through some major stress over the last couple of years. I’m extremely fortunate that I don’t look my age, trust me I know! Most people find it hard to believe that I have a 20 year old son although when I look closely in the mirror I’ve started to see some lines forming. Not to mention that if I look too close I have to pull back because reading glasses are in my future. But gray hair, didn’t see that one coming.

Of course where I found this insulting discovery is another matter itself. I was at Starbucks waiting in the drive though lane. Yeah I know, you have to wonder if its cosmic justice for wasting spending so much time of my life in that drive through lane. But its common knowledge that I have a Starbucks addiction and although admitting you have a problem is the first step to recovery I’m not quite ready for a 12 Step Program yet. By the way, did anyone else notice that Starbucks 3rd quarter profits decreased in 2007 and did anyone else realize that I was out of the country for about half of the 3rd quarter? Coincidence? You be the judge.

But back to my gray hair.

There I was minding my own business and looking in my rearview mirror and I see a hair that looks very much lighter in color than the hair around it. That in itself didn’t necessarily mean anything. I have very dark brown hair and do have some highlights in my hair but its been awhile since I’ve had my highlights done and this decolorized hair was obviously the same color down to the root.

“I think I found a gray hair!” I announced in an incredulous voice.

Ross was with me. I wasn’t just talking to myself although even if I had been alone I’m sure I would have done the exact same thing. “Where?” he asked, sounding just as incredulous.

I picked up the offending strand in my thumb and forefinger. “Here!”

He leaned closer to me. “That’s not a gray hair; its blond.” Ross was already becoming bored by my hysterics.

I plucked it out and held it toward him. “SEE! Its gray!!! I HAVE A GRAY HAIR!!!”

He took it from me, looked at it and tossed it out the window. “It was blond. Mom, you don’t have gray hair.”

Maybe he was right. Maybe it was blond. If I was going gray wouldn’t there be more gray hairs? But the rest of the drive home was spent mulling over the decision as to whether to color my hair when I go gray or age gracefully.

A couple of days later I had been placated into denial until waiting in the Starbucks drive through lane. As I waited I looked in the rearview mirror checking out my hair and low and behold, there was another gray hair!!! ARH! I plucked it out, more difficult this time because it was shorter than the other and pretty wirey, but once I examined it more closely there was no denying it. It was a gray hair.

I think I’ll be investing in some Miss Clairol stock.

4 comments:

Lori Lynn said...

I'm a firm believer that grey hair is not related to age. I started turning grey in my 20s. My mom didn't go grey until her late 70s.

I started coloring my hair in my
30s and haven't looked back.

Lori W
who doesn't believe in only one hill

wingepr said...

Lucky you, I've been dealing with them for at least 5 years. (I'll be 41 in Jan). One box of color about every 3.5 weeks.

Six kids, it was time! :)

PS
I was watching TV in the family room, actually I had put on Noggin and was not paying attention when my oldest asked WHAT IN
THE WORLD IS GRACIE WATCHING, WONT THAT SCARE HER???? It was the cartoon you were talking about the other day. Gamba???

Peg

Kristin said...

I am so with Lori and Peg on this one.

Lori, I found my first gray hair at age 16 or something like that. My dad grayed early snd I take after him---yeah for me. We both have bad knees and feet too. Wonder what else I'll inherit that I don't realize right now?

Peg, I color my hair every 3-4 weeks too so I am with you there. But, unlike my daughter, I stay within my color scheme!! Katie said she would take pictures tomorrow when she looks cute. :-) Oh, and when in January is your birthday? I'll be 42 on the 15th.

Denise Grover Swank said...

Peg,

I'll bet anything that it was Yo Gabba Gabba. Was Gracie hypnotized? That's a sure sign.

Emma's back on her nebulizer and my DVR wasn't working. Yesterday we had a few treatments full of screaming and fits. So last night Julia and Jenna started singing Yo Gabba Gabba songs and she immediately stopped and started watching them. Scary stuff.

As for the gray hair, since I had my makeover and hair color, I guess its a non-issue now-- as long as I keep coloring my hair!