Blog title

Yesterday I went to have my hair cut. After over half a century, you'd think this procedure would be routine. It shouldn't be that hard to tell them what I want. I don't really need to have my hair styled, just cut. Every time I go, I tell them I want it to look like it was three months ago - or six months, or two years, depending on how long it's been since I last had it cut. And every time I say that, I get a blank stare that seems to say "I never met you before today. How should I know what you looked like back then?" I go to a hairstylist in the local mall where they seem to have hundreds of people working. Since I just want to walk in when I have time and don't want to wait, I just go with whoever is free, so I rarely get the same person twice. This time, I was assigned to a guy whom I don't think I've ever seen before. I told him I wanted to look like I did two months ago, and he declared that hair grows at half an inch a month, so he would take one inch off. I didn't look much different afterward (my wife didn't even notice) but I guess that's to be expected when you only have two months' worth taken off.

What always shocks me is seeing the hair fall down and noticing its color. It's not even gray anymore - it's white. It seems to still have a lot of black in it when I look in the mirror. Do they intentionally cut away the white hair or am I somehow delusional when I look in the mirror? Maybe I have a big bald spot and a receding hairline and I'm not noticing that either?

I don't usually have it cut this soon after the last time, but next week I am going on a business trip and I may meet with a real live Customer. I work in the Research division of a large corporation, where we are fairly well isolated and just do our Geeky stuff with very little contact with the outside world. This is the first time in several years that I might meet some customers. I've decided that I shouldn't look too uncivilized when I meet them. But then again, it might be good to maintain the Research mystique and show my wild side. If I don't have to meet with any more customers, I might let it grow out for a year this time.