In the early 70's my hair was thinning. The pianist was off with the children on a trip and I was having dinner with my parents. My mother said to me that I might look better if I had a permanent wave. At that time I had a few adventuresome colleagues who recently had adopted long curly hair. Big hair in the 70's was becoming a statement for men.
My mother knew nothing about statements. She just noticed my bald spot. She said she had a friend who did Toni Home Permanents. "Sure " I said, feeling cavalier, " Why not. " The next day I had my perm. When I was sitting down in my parents home and being worked on , as I looked in the mirror with big curlers in place I realized how much I looked like my mother. My perm worked out pretty well, curly but not too tight. a bit bigger hair, and my having the appearance of being somewhat risque.
Some people asked me later if I was having mid-life trouble. George Robson, a senior gynecologist asked, " Are you as horny as you look ?'" When the pianist got home she was thunderstruck, but amused and reflective. She wasn't sure she should go away too often. I appeared to have made some half-assed attempt to join a youth movement where I probably didn't belong.
I remembered that the ancient Jews believed Samson's power came from his hair. People may have resented big hair in Samson's time for its supposedly regenerative power and production of singular strength. Certainly Delilah destroyed the power of Samson by having him shorn of his locks.
I went back after a year to my conventional haircut after my 14 year old grew his hair below his shoulders. Trichotollimalia can strike you when you are careless and thoughtless around your mother, and I was never stronger or more popular with my big hair.
My mother knew nothing about statements. She just noticed my bald spot. She said she had a friend who did Toni Home Permanents. "Sure " I said, feeling cavalier, " Why not. " The next day I had my perm. When I was sitting down in my parents home and being worked on , as I looked in the mirror with big curlers in place I realized how much I looked like my mother. My perm worked out pretty well, curly but not too tight. a bit bigger hair, and my having the appearance of being somewhat risque.
Some people asked me later if I was having mid-life trouble. George Robson, a senior gynecologist asked, " Are you as horny as you look ?'" When the pianist got home she was thunderstruck, but amused and reflective. She wasn't sure she should go away too often. I appeared to have made some half-assed attempt to join a youth movement where I probably didn't belong.
I remembered that the ancient Jews believed Samson's power came from his hair. People may have resented big hair in Samson's time for its supposedly regenerative power and production of singular strength. Certainly Delilah destroyed the power of Samson by having him shorn of his locks.
I went back after a year to my conventional haircut after my 14 year old grew his hair below his shoulders. Trichotollimalia can strike you when you are careless and thoughtless around your mother, and I was never stronger or more popular with my big hair.
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