Category
Opinion What do you think?
Bookmark :
You may not have noticed it or not, but I'm getting older (I'll wait while you clean up your computer screen from where you just spewed laughing). I'm 45, and halfway to 46. Now, I accept a few things about getting older:
- I'll get some wrinkles, and eventually look like a prune
- I'll probably gain a few pounds; I've been able to keep my weight in check so far, but I can't exercise very much anymore. And while new knees will help (getting them in 2010), I accept that it's only a temporary solution.
- My already "high forehead" would continue to "grow", and I would eventually be predominately bald
Now, I do not plan to fight aging; in fact I intend to embrace it, and while that means that I will accept - and even celebrate - the evidence that I've lead a good life, I do not intend to just sit back and do nothing to at least avoid looking comical. So, for instance, I intend to probably grow a big ol' white beard in 15-20 years, and probably look like an elfin Santa. Why? Well, why not? I CAN grow a bushy beard, might as well do it when it finally looks kewl.
But this post isn't about my beard; nor is it about my weight. It is about my hair (or increasingly lack thereof). My hair has begun an accelerated and full retreat off of my head; and in fact it appears to be in a race between it all being grey/white, and it all being gone. I have always said that I would not sport the, shall we say, "popular" MPB (Male Pattern Baldness) haircuts, such as the "Bozo the Clown" (thick hair around the sides, none on top), the "combover" (aka the "car hood"), or the "unicorn" (you've seen it - guys with that tuft of hair right in the middle, a little island of "bald-faced" defiance). In fact my solution is to eventually shave (or very, very closely cut) my hair, similar to one of these distinguished gentlemen:
Ed Harris - cropped pretty short, but with some length - maybe 1/2"
Patrick Stewart - basically shaven, with a "five o'clock shadow"
Then we have the exceptional John Malkovich, two ways:
John Malkovich #1 - another shaven/five o'clock shadow
John Malkovich #2 - short - maybe 1/4", with it going straight down to his beard, all the same length (nice touch)
And of course, there's completely cleanshaven.
And one more - we can't forget our favorite resident big bald teddy bear, vowe:
Volker does a nice shaven head (sometimes a bit of fuzz), with a beard or goatee.
Now, I have noticed that many bald/balding men also have facial hair; I don't know if this is overcompensation, or just done to provide "balance". In any case I know I can't have a beard/goatee now, because it is about 50/50 white/light brown. Maybe with a shaven head, that would be ok; I don't know.
Well, I believe it is coming up close to the time to ditch the hair. Don't think so? My family didn't either - until I pointed it out to them. Here, let me show you...
So, there you have it. As you can tell, if you're honest (with yourself, if not with me), my hair is going back rather quickly. My high forehead was noticeable from the sides a little when I was younger, but now the receding hair line (in full retreat to the rear, no stragglers left in the "front") is increasing how quickly it moves. And like I said earlier - I don't mind it going away - I earned it 
- but I just want to make it not look stupid.
I want your honest opinion. Be frank. Be brutal. Use a fake name if you don't want to hurt my feelings (BTW - you can't - ask my best friends). I just want to know what you think.
And who knows - maybe I'll be sporting a new hair-do at Lotusphere 2010 
Rock
Blog Roll
