Minor details & ghost of the Texas Chief

Several days after trying on my remaining suits (to determine whether I might actually be wearing my women's pants suit to the wedding), and picking which pair of flats will look best, my wife told me that I'll be wearing my hair in a ponytail that day.   I showed her broken short ends of the hair around my face and on top of my head, which "care when blow drying" and "less use of a brush when wet" have been slowly helping to re-grow (but not yet back to ponytail length).  I also pointed out that it wouldn't look good with all those shorter strands flopping around on my face in the breeze.  She said she'll 'bobby pin" them, so they won't be an issue.   I agreed that she could do it for the wedding, and at that point let the subject drop.

However, later that day, we found that she'd be attending two bridal showers during our visit, and I'd probably have to drive her to D-I-L's parents' place each time, and hang around with our son, her dad and brother while the girls have their fun.  So, she got "that look" in her eye again about my hair, which having just been washed, and with noplace to go requiring it to be combed out or given any "greasy kid stuff," it was still in a bit of disarray.

I "headed the problem off at the pass" and cut right to the chase...with my own plagiarized version of "stink eye."   I said that if she's contemplating my hair being pinned up for more than his wedding day, "forget it."  I'll concede the issue on the day of the wedding, since there will be 250 attending (mostly her family), but that's the only time.  I want it loose the rest of the time.  It's how I look every day.   And though most of the family is from the very red state of Tennessee, I'm not.  So, they'll have to get used to dealing with that long-haired "hippie" from liberal ol' Maryland...and at least I'm the right age for the "hippie" part, having attended college in the SF Bay area in the mid-sixties!

She said my hairdresser could whack it back to a men's generic short style - then I wouldn't need a ponytail at all.  My response was to offer her "a deal" - if she finds a full cap wig (men's OR women's) that fits me, in a bob, generic pixie or other shorter style, I'd consider trying that, to give her something she can live with for special occasions like this.   Well,  as you might imagine, if looks could kill!   You probably don't have to guess -  the wig idea's DOA.  And the reason she's pursuing this is - you guessed it - "with your hair loose, you look like a woman."   First time I've heard that statement in a long while...and I'll take it as a compliment, though it certainly wasn't meant that way.

I'm not at all sure how this "hair thing" will work out.  I plan to resist further ponytail wearing - at least until the broken hairs have grown out enough to "stay in the elastic band without lots of help from bobby pins and hair spray."  But realistically, I recognize that such a relatively minor issue as a ponytail and some bobby pins is not worthy of a major "scene" (particularly in plain sight of the kids, or worse yet, others who don't know us)  at such a festive event.  Guess it's like the national "project" of trying to get the debt limit increased prior to the deadline for shutting down the government again.  The question is: who will blink first?

Like everything else, we'll see...

Recently, we had errands to run on the other side of the Bay, and she noticed a couple of men's stores advertising suit sales. (Something we never had reason to check before.)  One was marked for a sale - $149 suits.  She commented that we should stop there in the next few weeks. Apparently the allure of a cheap "men's" suit may be too much to resist.  So as the famous statement goes, "It ain't over till the fat lady sings..." (Gosh,  since I won't be wearing a dress, I hope nobody wants ME to sing...LOL!  Folks would be trampling each other as they scramble for the exits...)

At my most recent appointment with the stylist, I asked if next time I come in, she could pin everything up for me, so my wife could see a professional view of how my hair should look, without damaging it.   She said she could do that, and confirmed that two days in a ponytail (that day and the wedding day), "glued together" with bobby pins and hair spray, shouldn't cause any permanent damage.   I hope she's right.

From the archives - a couple pictures taken in Dallas, TX back in 2009.  First is a city scene on a clear night, as seen from atop the Adams Mark hotel.  Not a hill in sight...   The flat horizon gives it away as being from "out on the plains."  

Next is a ghost of the old Santa Fe "Texas Chief" - courtesy of a 2009 night photo session at the Age of Steam Railroad Museum in Dallas   This was a real adventure!  Equipment was operable, and looking at the pictures today still makes chills run up my back...it was wonderful!

You can tell the engine isn't in current revenue service because it isn't equipped with the two Federally-mandated ditch lights, one down low on each front side, to form a lighted triangle as the train is operating down the track.  And the light behind the number board is too dim.  Nonetheless, it sure is a pretty sight!   And it's such a traditional livery - everyone recognizes it!


Enjoy!


Mandy