traumatized

I went to the hairdresser today for a haircut. A time or two before, I have seen what I thought might be a gray hair on my head (and quickly yanked it out to destroy all evidence), but I have always come to the conclusion that it must just be bad lighting.

Today though, something bad happened. Something really bad. It was awful and sadly undeniable.

Today, my hairdresser found and pulled out my first "official" gray hair. And believe me, the little stinker was gray to the root. It was a baby hair that must have been hiding when I got ready this morning. How could I miss something so blinding?! For a moment, I think I even saw it twinkle.

So there I was, sitting in the salon having an inside panic attack, and trying to not show it because there were two ladies with solid gray heads of hair sitting right next to me watching the whole ordeal unfold. But apparently, I don't have much of a poker face because they were both giving me dirty looks in response to my negative reaction.

I know of several gray haired people that follow my blog (Thanks for reading!). So to you and anyone else reading this, don't get me wrong. I think gray hair can be beautiful and very striking. And I have always said that if I do have beautiful gray hair when I'm older... I won't color it. I will just be proud of my natural color. But I never thought that "when I'm older" would mean TWENTY-FOUR!

Now rest assured that my parents are eating this up, and have taken the opportunity to crack several "gray head" jokes in my presence. In fact, my mom gladly informed me that I should consider it a present since I am quickly approaching my quarter-century birthday. Yay... Happy birthday to me.

To put the cherry on top, when my hairdresser showed the little booger to me, she tried to calm my nerves by saying, "Well... at least it's a pretty silver gray and not an ugly, yellowish-gray!" Ugly, yellowish-gray!?! There is such a thing?? Thanks a lot. I feel much better now.

All day long, I have been continually repeating to myself what King Solomon said in Proverbs 16,

"Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained by a righteous life."

That must be it. I'm just a really, really righteous person. Yeah. It's the only logical explanation. I can't think of any other reason I would be prematurely graying in my mid-twenties.

You agree... Right?