Embarrassment of riches

The New York Times piece on the gray hair being affected by very young girls/women seems to have struck a nerve. Read the comments if nothing else (including one from Hagga [as her alterego scarpia2] doing a little blog promotion). There are so many I wish I had written, including this one, from nutsnbolts in Honolulu:

A few years ago, my 70-something father leaned over and whispered in my ear that my gray hair was starting to show. "You need to dye it" he whispered. His concern was not that it made me look old, but that the older I looked, the older he looked. With the long-dormant embers of teenage rebellion rekindled, I have refused to color my salt and pepper hair.

Now I am conflicted. I don't want people to think I am making a fashion statement. I want people to think I am a flaunting convention, declaring my independence, and pissing off my parents.

The most visible sign of my age (50) is a daily reminder of the thrill of being a teenager. I hope this trend never gains traction. If gray hair becomes chic, what will I do to recapture the excitement of my youth?