Friday, January 15, 2010

Random Thoughts...


I don't think I've written a blog post of random thoughts before. However, it feels like the right kind of post for the kind of week I've had...

1. I want to dedicate a post to my friend Mary who passed away on Wednesday after a strong and courageous fight against brain cancer. After all, I've done that for two other friends I've lost from cancer in the past couple of years. But, I just can't bring myself to do it. I think I'm not ready. It would mean that she's actually gone. But, I can tell you that I'm happy she got an extra year, she died peacefully, and in her last hours she wore the pink hat that I made for her at the beginning of her fight. Someone wove a little daisy into it's stitches and the sun was shining on her sweet face.

2. One of my knit friends was expecting a baby this July. Such exciting and fun news. I even bought her a pair of adorable knit baby booties a couple of weeks ago. But, this week, things took a turn and it didn't work out. She's in surgery today. :-( I can only begin to imagine how hard this must be for them. But, hopefully, this is just a bump in the road and things should work out great. I know people who have gone through this and within a year or so they have a healthy, happy baby. That's what's in my thoughts and prayers for her and her husband.

3. I try to be an up person and I really have been in spite of this week. Which, is quite amazing considering the top two things and that I've had a nausiating sinus headache most of the week too. Ugh! It seems to be gone this morning. Ahhhhh!

4. I was coloring my hair to cover the gray. More than a year ago, I decided to be "authentic" and let it grow out. I even read the book, "Going Gray" by Anne Kraemer. But, after some interesting comments about my "age", or what they thought was my age, and some thought, I colored it again. My husband's first reaction was that I looked 10 years younger. Well, that was it! I had to keep coloring it. It made me feel better too. I've been thinking about it though and wondering if I want to try the whole "authentic" thing again and let it be what it is...whatever it is. I don't like the idea of putting those chemicals on my head. And, I don't enjoy the process. So, I've been growing it out, again. It's much more gray than I expected. But, still not the beautiful white/gray that two of my knit friends have. I'm not liking it. I keep waffling back and forth...keep growing it out so I can really see what it's like...or...NO WAY! I'm too young for this! Run to the store NOW and get color to cover this up! It didn't help that I watched an episode of Oprah last night where they colored a woman's "authentic" gray hair. And, that's the show I heard about all this "authentic" stuff to begin with! lol What are your thoughts? Do you color your hair?

4. Continuing on the gray and age theme...I'll be turning 48 on Sunday. I think this number will be ok. Funny how that goes. I was ok turning 40 but 41 bothered me. 45 was a little weird. It'll be interesting to see how I feel when I turn the big 5 0. It sounds a little scary! In the meantime, I still have a couple more years in my 40's. Wooo Hooo! :-)

5. We've been enjoying some absolutely gorgeous, sun shiney weather the past few weeks. I've loved every day of it! But, we reallllllly do need rain. It's suppose to rain most of next week. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Even though it'll be gray and rainy, I'm hoping that next week will be happier and headache free!

The picture is "Hot Cocoa" roses from my yard, sitting next to my kitchen sink. I love those roses! The bush is so healthy and it blooms all year. :-)

6 comments:

judith said...

1 & 2- So sorry to hear about these times of sadness for you and your friends. 3- hoping your headaches subside soon. 4- been there done that with the grays, I was all ready to go gray, had myself all ready, but my hair dresser said "NO, you are not old enough." She gave me the most beautiful color that causes the grays to turn to a golden color. I get so many complements. You are worth a good color from the hairdresser, everyone is. 5- lucky you on the nice weather, it's still yucky here... I'm ready for Summer!

Erin @Days to Remember said...

Thank you Cheryl. I ended up not needing the D&C today, thankfully, and am recovering quicker than I thought I would. Hold onto those booties because we have high hopes that we'll have some cute little tootsies to put them onto soon.

I'm very sorry to hear about your friend, Mary. It's good to know that she had comfort and love to guide her through the difficult times, but I know how hard it is to have to say goodbye to a dear friend. My hugs to you!

Erin @Days to Remember said...

Oh- I forgot to mention that I already have several strands of gray, and I do cover them up a couple times a year. Right now, they're out there in the wide open, but probably not for long. :)

Sel and Poivre said...

I've been "authenic" since I was thirty. I get a lot of compliments on my hair - especially from men! (A couple of years ago a woman at a mall knocked over a huge display when she walked into it because she was distracted looking at my hair!)Afterwards she came over and asked for the name of my salon.

I think there are two secrets to making it work i.e. keeping it from just looking old. The easiest is a shampoo and conditioner made for white/grey hair that keeps it from yellowing. The second is a great cut and keeping it cut every 6 weeks so the overall look appears purposeful not just neglected. You need to have a great hair cutter who cuts your hair to look great not a stylist who relies on products and tools to manipulate the hair to make it look great. And don't forget how motivated hairdressers are to get you to colour - it costs a fortune and I'm sure is great business for the salon.

I knew I had found a salon for me last summer when I had my first appointment at my current place when I told the guy I wouldn't consider colouring my hair and he and the guy working at the next chair gasped and said "oh noooo we'd never suggest colour for a Silver Fox!" Besides, he said, every good cutter wants to work with natural hair - its so much healthier, the cut will always look better." If someone suggests colouring my hair, I'm done at their salon.

Its funny though - all the other women in my family colour - I always tease my mom and her sister that its strange how their hair is still brown when mine isn't!

Bottom line though, the money and time I would otherwise give to the colourist I can spend on knitting!

Vanessa in Oklahoma said...

On the subject of natural gray hair. I too have tried letting mine grow out but end up coloring it when I look in the mirror and see an older person! I noticed a lady at church that dyed her grayish hair a very, very dark brown, almost black color and it looked totally unnatural and unappealing. So, now I wonder if a softer color of brown and highlighted streaks would look better? I wonder about the 'chemicals' soaking into my skin when the dye is on....I'm also 'back and forth' on the issue and look forward to others comments and opinions!

Vanessa in Oklahoma

Sandra said...

so sorry to hear about your friends, although it seems that Erin is so very positive - good for her!
As for hair - I have reddish brown hair, and recently, silver threads have been showing up - right around the front hairline. (I'm 47). I don't colour, mainly becasue I don't have the time or inclination to do so, and to keep it up. The grey is not prominent right now, so I'll see how I feel shen it becomes so, but I can probably say I won't colour. I'm too lazy...