Guess I am officially old now

Category: Life happenings | Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 7:01 pm

My Grandmother had blue hair, from my earliest years of childhood I can only remember her having blue hair. In a perverse way I thought it was pretty cool to be the only kid in my grade whose Grandmother had blue hair....and who had been divorced. Considering the times (I started school in 1952) being divorced was not something talked about in polite company but being not quite the 'polite' child my mother would have preferred I did talk about it.

Back to the blue hair.....my grandmother started going gray at the age of 18 and by the time I was born when she was 36, she was totally gray. The popular way to treat gray hair in those days was to brighten it with laundry bluing.....why not, it was used to brighten white clothes. I am not sure that there were any official instructions for that use, my grandmother must have figured that if a little was good then a lot was better.....it turned her gray hair a pale blue.

When I was a young woman I vowed that I would never dye my hair when it started going gray. I certainly didn't plan on bluing my hair, that was cool on my grandmother but not gonna happen on me.

As I got older the gray coming in was a mousy color and with my dark hair it looked terrible so I gave in and started dyeing it. To make a long story short, over time I developed an alergy to the coloring used in the hair dye. I stopped using it and let my hair grow so I could get all the colored part cut off. I got my hair cut really short last week and realized that the gray is looking pretty good so I think I will keep it. Besides now I don't have to prove I am eligible for the senior citizen discount when I buy something or we go out to eat....like the cashier couldn't see the wrinkles before? sheesh.

But even with the gray hair, wrinkles, a 42 year old daughter, senior discounts, senior sized portions at restaurants and aches and pains that were not there a few years ago being old hadn't really sunk in.

Then today reality hit.....I received my first Social Security Benefit payment.

But what the heck, I've got extra money and am going plant shopping.

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glendann wrote on Wed Jun 25, 2008 7:41 pm:

I don't have the gray hair but I sure feel old lately.I have been drawing my Social Security survivers benefits for about 2 1/2 years now.I'm not eligible for mine until next year.
I remember blue hair but thank goodness I only have a few gray and I don't color mine yetttttt.

Biita wrote on Wed Jun 25, 2008 7:50 pm:

Awww come on Toni,,,just a little blue streak, with a tiny pink or red streak next to it, and what the heck give the grandkids a real memory, go for a thin purple streak next to all that. Your grandma gave you a memory, why not give yours the same,,, besides if all else fails, you can fit in right next to that beautiful garden of yours!

Remember, your only as old as you want to be,,, with extra to spend!

Droopy wrote on Wed Jun 25, 2008 7:58 pm:

Congratulations on being properly grown up! Please remember to show us what you bought. I love your attitude. Since I spotted the first greys I've been wondering if I should start to colour my hair again. Haven't done that in 15 years or so. But now I think I'll just leave it be and welcome the new gray hairs that show up. Maybe my grandchildren will remember me as one of few women with natural grey hair?

dooley wrote on Wed Jun 25, 2008 8:26 pm:

My hair was a dark carroty red most of my life. It was still red when we moved to Arizona.I tell everyone the sun faded it. Now, everyone thinks I'm a blond. I have never colored or tried to dye it. What awful color might have resulted.
I've been receiving social security for a time now, but I'm still not too old. dooley

tschnath wrote on Wed Jun 25, 2008 8:46 pm:

Well enjoy your SS benefits Toni. And don't worry about the grey. I'm 44 (long time, if any, before I see my SS benefits) but I've already got the grey. Not too much, but it's coming in more and more. When I was 17 I tried to lighten my hair (it's light brown, I wanted to add highlights). Well it turned red, I guess my hair is no good for dying. Anyway, I vowed never to dye my hair again, so I live with it. But it's ok, it showes I've had my share of "whatever" and have delt with it and moved on ready to deal with "whatever" else. Just rememver your not getting older your getting wiser. I truely believe that.

eileen wrote on Wed Jun 25, 2008 9:23 pm:

I used to have three maiden aunts who had lilac, green and blue hair. Their married sister had pink hair and I still remember them 'tutting' at the youngsters dyeing their hair different colours and saying "You'd never catch ME doing that." LOL

I used to have red hair but over the years it's turned to a kind of white blonde. I guess I'm lucky as I never did go grey but one things for sure I'll never have green, lilac, blue or green!!

gardenmama wrote on Wed Jun 25, 2008 9:25 pm:

I look at age as just a number, how you feel and how young you feel is better judge. Age is only a state of mind!

xylona wrote on Wed Jun 25, 2008 9:39 pm:

I am currently 33, but developed my first grey hair around 20 or so (my mother started going grey at about 16).
My mother was the first to notice it in the car one day and ripped it out.
Boy was I mad. I keep all the grey hairs I can. I figure I have earned them! :)

kuntrygal wrote on Wed Jun 25, 2008 10:35 pm:

I don't know what color my hair is!!!! Loreal is my best friend. I do know that I have a lot of grey especially aound my face. But don't know if I'm pretty much covered up with it. Don't really care. Like 'gardenmama' said age is only a state of mind. So Toni get all the discounts you can and have fun with your shopping spree. Be sure and let us see what you purchase. Congratulations on reaching maturity!!!!!

wannabe wrote on Wed Jun 25, 2008 11:04 pm:

My hair started turning gray and I wasn't going to dye it until my niece convinced me to try it. But as of this last time I am just letting it go natural. I was very active until about 3 years ago and now I can hardly get about. But I still keep going. Wannabe

Sjoerd wrote on Wed Jun 25, 2008 11:23 pm:

Shopping for plants makes everything all better...plus, you've got 'family' on here that you can show your purchases to and they will be appreciated.
Forget blue...and buy GREEN! ;-)

petunia wrote on Thu Jun 26, 2008 4:29 pm:

At 44 myself, I'm seeing some grey but I think I'll color over it soon. I still feel young and I don't want to look old. I don't even want to be called 'grandma' yet (by my hubby's grandkids, they just call me by my name). Maybe its just a problem I have, but I want to be able to stay young if thats possible.

Frank wrote on Thu Jun 26, 2008 9:57 pm:

I often wondered as a kid why older women had blue hair also :) Enjoy the extra money Toni, you deserve it!

Palm Tree wrote on Mon Jun 30, 2008 8:22 am:

I do not really know what color my hair is. I have it highlighted from time to time (I suppose in an effort to make the little grey blend in.)
But I want to agree with Sjoerd - go green rather.
ANd Gardenmama - I agree with her too - I feel quite young myself (26-7 maybe even 25) and I am on the wrong side of 40.

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