June 20, 2003
Hair
1. Is your hair naturally curly, wavy, or straight? Long or short?
My hair is naturally wavy and kept short. It's brown.
2. How has your hair changed over your lifetime?
When I was a teenager, my hair was always long, down to my shoulders long. My hair is very thick and wavy, and it was a bit messy when it got that long. I can't remember if it was an 80s thing, an act of rebellion, or just a midwest teenaged thing, if there's any real reason behind it at all.
3. How do your normally wear your hair?
I keep it cut short. My barber left San Francisco and moved to Palm Springs, and now I'm in a quandry. It's getting to that time of the month, and I must set out in search of someone new. It's not easy for me. On the other hand, it's hair, it's dead, and it will grow back, right?
4. If you could change your hair this minute, what would it look like?
I would like it to be a little more curly. Not tight tiny curls, just more wavy.
5. Ever had a hair disaster? What happened?
I don't think I had a bad cut, but when I was in the navy, I dyed it a dark red, chestnut/auburn color. That is not something you can do without the permission of your superiors, and since I was already having a hard enough time trying to stay gay in the navy, it probably wasn't a good idea. One of my superiors asked me point blank, "Is your hair a different color?" I just shrugged and said, "No." I mean, I would notice something like that right? It was scary. I didn't know if they would believe me or not. I don't think they did, but they didn't pursue the matter, and I discontinued the color until I was discharged.
On another occasion, my civilian hairdresser friend, who later became my roommate when I was discharged, cut my hair in a "faddish" way, although we didn't really intend to do so. Apparently, the military has ultra-strict rules for men's haircuts that I wasn't aware of. During my outprocessing, after I came out and after they started the discharge paperwork, I was working in the CO's office as an admin. The XO (a bald, ignorant, deeply unhappy man) came up to me and yelled, "What is that in your hair, sailor?" I was stunned. I didn't know what to say. "Is that a faddish haircut?" I didn't know faddish was a word. "I want to see that gone by tomorrow, is that understood? I don't care if you're on X-Division, you're still a member of the US Navy, and I expect you to act like it." I freaked. The whole office was stunned. I remember the quartermaster, this totally cute blond chick from San Diego, coming up to me later and saying something like, "Don't worry about it. He's probably jealous that you have more hair than he does himself. Just get it fixed." Scared the fuck out of me. Months later, after the XO left NSGD-DLI Monterey, he was given a small command in Hawaii where he was later found dead of a heart attack at his desk.
Happy Friday!
