new thread
Hi to all, --- whether young newbies or old geezer longhairs, alike!
OK, time for me to get philosophical...
Growing long hair is easy. It's just like going on a cross-country road trip. For added imagery to help illustrate my point, let's take the North American cantinent, for example. Since most of the world has heard of the US states of both New York and California, and most people know that they are on opposite sides of the North American continent, we'll start there.
Imagine living on Long Island (the part of New York that has the most shoreline on the Atlantic Ocean), and deciding to take a trip West, all the way over to see the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, in order to gaze at the Pacific Ocean. When you start you road trip, your hair is short. But, deep in your heart, you want to grow it looooooong...
When you make it to Western Pennsylvania, the Appalacian Mts. awe and impress you with all the twists and turns in the road, and the long tunnels that cut through towering hills. Those that don't like all the ups and downs of the hilly terain decide to head back to the flatter roads along the Long Island beaches or the New Jersey shore; but, for those who are still curious about seeing the Great West and eventually the golden state of California, they press onward...
You arrive in Chicago and stay overnight with relatives. Your aunt Mabel and old Uncle Ernie tempt you into staying a bit longer than you originally planned. You oblige them for maybe a week or 2; but, eventually you get re-focussed, re-pack your bags, and pick up where you left off and move on...
Crossing the mighty Mississippi River, you stare in amazement at a river being so wide. The St. Louis arch is not only symbolic of how far you've driven; it also tempts you into exploring the town for a few days. Here again, though, you eventually realize that in order to achieve your goal of seeing the Pacific Ocean, you have to move on...
Crossing the prairie states of Kansas and Nebraska, you never dreamed there could be such wide-open spaces where you can see miles and miles of open flat grassland as far as the eye can see. You keep driving...
Gradually you notice the landscape looking more arid, even a bit hilly. And then... WOW!!!! Suddenly in the distance before you stands a wall of snow-capped towering mountains that put the Appalacians to shame! These are the great Rocky Mts., --- and Denver, Colorado, is gleaming in the bright sunlight, telling you that the great Continental Divide is not far away...
I think you get the picture! But, just in case any confusion, here is my interpretation of the longhaired roadtrip:
Long Island, NY, the roadtrip's starting point, is symbolic of crew cuts, --- or whatever short haircut you have had that you consider to be "normal" short. Crossing the Appalacian Mts. of Pennsylvania is symbolic of entering into the first stages of the infamous "awkward stage": your hair is beginning to constantly get into your eyes, create stupid-looking "wings" in and over your ears, and is beginning to ticle and torture the back of your neck...
Visiting relatives in Chicago is symbolic of friends or relatives suggesting you get a trim and stay there awhile, that you'd look much better if your hair was "layered" by a stylist, etc. You give in for a bit, maybe even liking the new look for a short time; but, eventually, you still want to experience really long hair; so, you move on...
Crossing the mighty Mississippi River is when you first realize that you've come a really long way by now, --- it's symbolic as a landmark that you've made it almost past the awkward phase! So, you celbrate; but, still gotta move on...
The wide-open horizens of the Great Plains states of Kansas and Nebraska are the foretellers of the future towering Rocky Mountains not being too far a way now. Then after you reach Denver and then head up into the High Country, you will soon cross the Great Continental Divide, --- which, in my mind symbolizes your first ponytail that you can finally gather all your hair back into (which is what most longhairs consider to be the end of the "awkward stage", and the beginning of when most guys feel they've finally "arrived" as a bonafide longhair!
Going even further West, --- especially if you successfully cross all the rugged mountain ranges, as well as make it across the hot, dry Western deserts --- once you've finally made it to California, this is symbolic of "the promised land" (LOL).... This is when you achieve your hair's goal-length, --- whether it be terminal length; or, any hair length that's your preferred version of that...
Happy Travelling!
- Ken in San Francisco
Been too long since you climbed onto the philosopher's soapbox, Ken. If nothing else, your little rambles are always interesting reading.
Well put! heading toward the continental divide myself and hope to see you in SF later this year.
Hey Ken, great read! I just arrived in CA a few days ago happy to say! But I heard it never rains in CA...so I'm confused about that. LOL
Always fun to read your philosophical posts.
Hope you are having a good week.
Cheers,
Max
That's just southern California. But don't they warn ya, it pours. Man, it pours.
Tracy
Hey Tracy...I knew someone was going to call me out on that...and you were it! LOL Hope you are doing well and that you had a good week.
Cheers,
Max
Hi, Max,
I didn't mean to call you out; I was just singing a song [g]. I am well and have had a goode week, and I hope you are the same.
Tracy
Apologies to those who tire of reading any of my my philosophical babblings, --- sometimes I just like to talk too much (lol)!!
OK, rather than blah blah blah much more, I'd just also like to say thanks in advance to anybody else who decides to reply to my Roadtrip thread,
And, just for the record: I am NOT opposed to anyone who decides to stop and stay forever in Chicago (either "symbolically", or otherwise). It's YOUR hair and YOUR roadtrip in life, --- so, just enjoy the journey... and let your heart be your guide as to where your final destination might take you!!
(As long as you don't whine to me about not ever making it to the fabled "promised land" of California - LOL)
- Ken
(OK, off to work now.... cowboy disappearing back into MLHH Lurkland...)
Hi Ken,
And when you pass through the bumpy Bible Belt middle America small town USA that's where you get the hostile "get a haircut" slur? (based on Bill Choisser's On Being a LongHair)
Duncan
But what happens when the long hair decides to make a stop at Las Vegas, the 24 hour entertainment capital of the world?
Too Kool, Ken !
....I was actually born and raised on Long Island (back in the day when you ALWAYS got a crew cut for the summer).
....I've spent a great deal of time in Illinois and Nebraska, where I separated from the military and started getting shaggy.
....Now of course, while I've been in the West for several decades, my poor tired old hair is still climbing the Rockies ! HA!
Great Post
Thanks for Sharing
Walter
Hi Ken,
It's always interesting to read your posts and I'll have to bear those in mind when I next visit those states.
Cheers,
John.B
California as the promised land? And I thought we were supposed to be encouraging people here!
Cosidering the time of year that's very good! I've never thought of it as the land of milk and honey before!
"...California as the promised land? And I thought we were supposed to be encouraging people here!..."
"They" will all be on your case now...! HA!
Great wise words though....I can see the Evil Land from my place..(sort of like Sarah Palin seeing Russia from Alaska....)
Ha Ha ha, Considering it has one of the highest foreclosure rates and among the highest unemployment rates. Land of milk and honey......LOL
Kevin
Ken, great post as always, and as I have mentioned before, you ought to be writing professionally. The analogy of the road trip is great, and the geography does correspond with the journey. I'd like to see it more though as starting in NY, Long Island even, and taking a jaunt down South, maybe ending up in Atlanta or New Orleans. You know the going is much easier. It's relatively flat along the whole seaboard coastline in the East. You might run up on a few hills around North or South Carolina, but once you get past that, it's flat -- easy going. Maybe going to New Orleans is more analogous for those of us who just let things roll off us like water off of a duck's back. I'd have to say, that this time around, having forgone corporate America, being in the academic world, my hair journey has been this easy trip down to the South, no imposing Rockies or any of that. Long straight stretches of interstate without inpediments. I-10 will take you straight across Mississippi past Biloxi and on into Louisiana. No one even makes snide comments anymore to me. The other day, a friend of mine, who happens to be Jewish, made some comment about me changing water into wine. I like it though.
In New Orleans, it's "Laissez les bons temps rouler!"
Matt
Absolutely splendid analogy Ken,
I did notice that you didn't detour though Alabama or the great hair-hating state of Texas! Probably a good idea. That would allude to the "problem road".
Paul
Hi Ken,
Very creative writing as you actually combined making a cross country road trip into ones longhair journey.You make it so clear the parallels between the two.I give you credit Ken,when you put your mind to making a post you do give it your all!I certainly enjoyed reading your piece my friend:)Cheers
Mark
(n/t)