Well, on the advice of Bruce, I went ahead and got the damaged ends cut and the back of the neck cleaned up. Here's the before photo...
http://www.mlhh.org/images/155971.jpg
and hopefully I've attached the after photo. We'll see how it feels in the morning, I guess.
It's funny - I've never really felt like a long-hair, not in the way most of you describe. I still feel like there's this short-haired preppie inside me fighting with the hippie. Maybe it's low grade schizophrenia or something. But I'm still a little sad at losing the (probably very, in grand scheme of things) little that was cut today.
Thanks, everyone, for reading and your support (both posted and un.)
Chris
Well said, my feelings exactly! I'm not sure I fit the "long hair mold" and I'm sure several on here would agree (OK guys, be nice now!). My basic philosophy or outlook has not changed just because my hair is longer; my hair is longer because my basic outlook on things has changed.
I guess being a long-haired preppie isn't so bad either.
Big George
I have to agree with you both, I spent most of my life not really paying all that much attention to my hair. I never had obvious hair (or lack of it), pretty bland mostly. I guess I can not be what some people here call "botn longhairs". Otherwise I could never have survived 40 or so years of normal haircuts lol
But I am comfortable enough with it now, I am trying growing out to see if I like it. This may not be a popular motivation around here with all the diehards but it's my own honest one :)
Who cares what the popular motivation is; are you doing what pleases you? That is the primary question to answer.
For the longest time I was in a work environment that dictated I have a business cut; once I got out of that I made no real effort to change initially. A health event made me realize that what I want is what is important, and that life is too short go left things undone. Therefore I am growing my hair out, popular or not. And having fun doing so.
We all have a bit of the "different drummer" syndrome in us. It's just a bit unique that we walk to the beat of a "different drummer" while in a group that does exactly the same thing. Go figure.
Big George