vanity

Music: Keith Jarrett: My Song (1978)

It's that time of year again, when I am feeling restless about how I appear to myself (and by extension, to others too). We're doing all sorts of things to feel more relaxed (like avoiding mirrors), but it's time to do something with the hair. For years I've been contemplating cutting it off. I still cannot bring myself to do it completely (it's at the upper reaches of my buttocks at present), although I have promised myself a Mohawk if I get tenure. Regardless, a couple of years ago my pop took a bunch of photos to for my book cover flap (we finally went with this one), and I remember that I cut my hair to the shoulders, which you can see in the image to the left (click for larger version). I liked the look, but of course, it grew out.

Ok, so, here's the deal: we all know that person who wears decades-old glasses, or that individual who continues to wear the Member's Only jacket with the shoulder snap-button clasps. Everyone is afraid to say something because fashion is so personal. I know that long hair is fairly timeless (as long as its in a pony tail, it looks "current"---oh, but without bangs or mulletude). But what about the shoulder length hair? Is it too 80s?

I'm stuck in the 80s. I admit it. I love the 80s in song. Given how quickly folks supported G-Dub after Nine-eleven, I'd gamble folks really, secretly loved the Cold War too. So this is to say: would a shoulder-length cut like in the photo be too Cold War? Is it like wearing friendship beads on my lapel?