Journal to a Muse

Metamorphosis and the March Hair

You know all those jokes about how people freak out because they've turned into their mothers? In how they discipline their children? Or how they sound? Or even how they look?

And does anybody else besides me remember Mother-Daughter Dresses? In the 50's? Mostly I wished my mother had gotten the yen for matching outfits before I was a pre-teen. Egad! I didn't want to look like her then.
While looking for illustrations, I discovered there is apparently a religion based/modesty movement that thinks the whole family should dress alike. Modesty is fine, don't get me wrong. We don't all need to dress like Madonna in her Truth or Dare days, nor even J-Lo. But I don't need my hubby, son, daughter and self to all have the same pajamas. Save Me!
Dh and I saw a VERY blonde Cowboy Cheerleader-type blonde mom and toddler last week at Maggiano's. They were both in pink and green flowered jersey. Mom's was a long skirt and top. Daughter was in matching shorts and shirt. Dad was in plaid -- couldn't tell if it was flannel or preppy, and kept his baseball cap on throughout their meal. I don't think they were part of the modesty movement.)

I managed to avoid those pitfalls.

But-- I seem to be looking more and more like my ex-husband. He's a certified genious. Science. Professor. Absent minded. Tends to forget to go to the barber. According to my son, he is reminded to get his hair cut at the beginning of the semester. About every 12 weeks.
He can look like every scientist's hero.

My post-chemo hair is coming in curly. Curly. Curly. Thick. Thick. Thick.And Dark. So when I look in the mirror, I sort of see HIM.
When I last saw him at DD's MBA graduation, he had more gray around the temples and had more of an "Einstein" cut than I do at present.

Don't get me wrong... it's not all bad... it's just strange.

When mine gets longer, if it keeps all this curl, I might have a genuine "fro". I could look like Mr. T. Or I could bleach it white.. and look more like Barbara Bush. Or dye it red... or something. But for now, it just looks like a "beginning of the semester" cut. And it doesn't look like me.


My DS's M.Ed. graduation is in two months. I hope the kids read this. I wouldn't want them to be confused about who's who.