Extra Arms (or Legs)

I got this sweet octopus card in the mail today. It's from a thoughtful sister with impeccable taste in stationary. I always get nice cards from Canada. They still use the real post there!

The card got me thinking: It'd be nice to have 8 arms/legs right now so that I would have a few extra to hold my hair back when I'm sick. Instead, I have to hastily put it up as I scoot to the bathroom. Over the past 46 days, I've seriously considered cutting it at least three times. I've been growing it for more than a year so that I can donate it to Locks of Love or a similar program, and it's long enough to donate now. But I'm not sure it's the right time. Each time I think about it, I eventually have to ask myself, Is now really the right time to get my hair cut like Mia Farrow in Rosemary's Baby?

I would like to have short hair again, but I'm not so sure now's the right time to be scissor happy. I've had short hair before. I like it. It suits me fine. It's easier to maintain and it certainly doesn't get caught in zippers or require much grooming. I considered it again this weekend as I was watching The Sound of Music-- Julie Andrews looks great! Maria's hair is probably more like the length I'd go for, but it's still SHORT. I decided that I have to think about what I'll look like 6 months from now and consider that in addition to the weight I hope to gain back (I'm still down 8 -- today it was 9-- pounds from the start of this adventure), I should gain more as well, which will likely not be judicious in weight disbursement. Meaning, I might be waiting for my double chin to come in. I'll need some hair to cover that up, right? Maybe make me a little slimmer? I will need to hide behind something and have a distraction that's bigger than the belly I'll be sporting soon.

I'm not planning on going Cousin Itt on anyone, but I think I should keep the long hair at least 'til it's too long to stand any longer and then I can get it cut to a medium length and skip the inevitable comparisons to leading ladies with short hair. In the meantime, I will continue to hastily bundle up my hair as I scurry to the bathroom on my inevitable trips.

Thanks for the octopus, Lig!