Crowning glory

My daughter is visiting.  She's 28 and lives in San Francisco with her 10 year old son, Eli.  She's an aerial artist who supports herself by writing grants for a non profit charity. ( There I managed to paint an outline of her in two sentences that does her justice!)  She's affectionately referred to as "mini me" and "Darling Dee".

When she was growing up I went through several bouts of serial dating.  I was the hot mama!  Even her college friends said so -  a MILF (A title I was proud to own I might add!)  Short blood red spiky hair, size 2 and buff from training, with a killer wardrobe and a passion for sexy high heeled shoes.  I have a nose piercing. I think she liked having a sexy mom.  She certainly liked borrowing the shoes from my closet.

But I'm married and post cancer these days, and perhaps not so sexy. Today she stopped as she passed the bathroom where I was combing my long hair before dinner. "Oh Mom", so sighed. "You and your hair!"
I asked her what she meant.  "Well it used to be so hot and short and sexy," she told me.  "Now you have that cutesy pink clip in it with bling,..its just not your style!"

OK, I admit I was sad. 'This isn't my style either' I told her later. This is just what happens when you have to take drugs for Rheumatoid Arthritis, and you've had gall bladder surgery, and your hair is post anesthesia! It gets a bit dry and brittle as you get older...and its almost white, so as my color grows out I have roots! I can't wear it up, tussled on my head in a sexy knot with white roots! The spiky red hair was totally cool back when Annie Lenox ruled and I lived in Asia and San Francisco.  Here in the almost south, it's a bit harsh and unexpected on a slight 52 year old.  It frightens off the natives! The best thing I have heard said about it was that it made me a bit unapproachable and intimidated most men.  (Not to mention women...who all thought I looked too much like competition and wanted me as far from their husbands as possible.I was rarely invited to dinner parties when my hair was short and spiky!)

The long brownish/red straightened hair is pretty and sophisticated. My husband likes it. It doesn't intimidate anyone.  Its easier to tie back and 'clip'. But I do mourn "the look" that made everyone comment. My crowning glory has gone the way of my fast fun youth.  One day Darling Dee will understand when its just not cool for her to wear her Mohawk anymore!

Ok, I just had to wrote it....