During my lovely long hair days, ah, those days…the days I
used to take so much for granted. Yes,
those days, when I used to roll out of bed and leave the house. Those were the days! Hair products? Pppfff.
Make up? Naaaah. Deodorant?
Whatever! I just knew I was okay
walking out into the world just *being*.
Besides, I had a boyfriend, why did I wanna do any
attracting? The less the merrier was my
motto.
It was a sunny Saturday and I had to drive my daughter to ballet
class in North Park. I remember meeting
my boyfriend there, and as my girl was taking class, we went to
the coffee shop across the street. Boyfriend sat at the table as I got in line to order. As I was standing there perusing the menu, I
noticed a young, stocky, tattooed guy standing next to me.
Keep in mind that I really looked like I literally rolled
out of bed. I had some oversized, black
t-shirt on as well as bell-bottomed, black diagonally-striped pajama pants, and
no make-up. Not even lipstick….I mean, with
my front gap-toothed smile, lipstick at least distracts. But no, I was just *being* that day.
“Excuse me, ma’am, I just came back from Iraq, and I just
had to tell you, you are very exotic.”
I have no idea what expression dawned on my face when I
heard that. I often am very bad at
hiding my true feelings (not a great trait for an actress, I’m sure). Yes, it was a compliment, but why? I knew full well what I did (and didn’t do)
that morning, not to mention I had my younger eyesight back then, too. Is he being for real? Is that a pick up line? Exotic….is that because I’m brown? What should I say?
“Aw... thank you! You
are so kind! And thank you for your
service!”
What else am I supposed to say? Tell him he was wrong? Tell him I’m not exotic because I’m an American? That he needed to go to the
Gaslamp that night to get an eye full of lovely ladies who actually did the
work to look good? No, he just came
back from who knows what. And one thing I
know he didn’t see while serving in the Middle East, was long, black, shiny,
free-flowing hair, albeit on some funky
lady’s head. And my lovely mane probably was the first one he had seen getting back home. So, why should I diminish the moment with my bewildered mind? Hey, my long hair made his day, and got
me an unsolicited compliment when I felt I didn’t deserve any.
Ah…those days….
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