Some pivotal figures in my life, past and present, and the color of their hair. I don't know if there are any common strands, but figured I'd take a look. These come to mind right off the top of my head.Chestnut
Mom, H., my brother Will, Moey's daughter L., H.'s sister Eileen, my fun-loving nephews W. and T.
Blonde
Marcia, Jan, Cindy and Mrs. Brady, Jessica Fletcher, Ethel Mertz, Susan [a gifted reporter on our college newspaper and a journalist now], my friend and fellow writer Kim, Anne's daughter E., high school classmates I idolized, beautiful and kind accessories editor I worked with, sorority girl I knew by name on campus
Redhead/Auburn/Strawberry Blonde [interchangeable with "ginger" for Figgy and her friends, which makes me smile]
Lucy, Sis, Figgy, Brenda Starr Reporter, Uncle Aldo [I don't think I knew him with hair, but heard it had been reddish], Opie, Nancy Drew [at least in some early depictions], childhood friend Nancy G. and her little sister, Terry
Black
Mrs. R. [one of my Girl Scout leaders when I was a Cadette, who was a little scary for one reason or another], That Girl
Gray
EL [brilliant magazine editor in chief I absolutely idolized first at Woman's Day and then later at Good Housekeeping; she had her finger on the pulse]; Dad; Granny; Grandpa; Anne's husband and my friend, Michael; JMC [who led Good Housekeeping Magazine for many years with Southern charm and keen wisdom], a scary secretary
Blue
Certain teen girls I know, who occasionally sport streaks [courtesy of CVS], from turquoise to cobalt
What a colorful crowd I run with. Based on this list, I may have to dye my hair red. It seems the most daring people in my life have been redheads--Lucy, Sis [who spent two years in the Peace Corps in Western Samoa], Figgy, Brenda Starr Reporter, Nancy Drew. Pushing the envelope, getting their zest out of life. Seems like a good thing. [And, the only category with a fairy-tale princess name like Strawberry Blonde.]
Watch out. You may not recognize me next time. JK [just kidding]. I think.
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Nancy Drew was a Titian blonde. I know this because when I used to whine at my parents about not being able to watch TV but instead was forced to read books, so I read trash like Nancy Drew and how was that any better for me than TV, my mother would say, "at least you know what a Titian blonde is, and a roadster and a coupe." (She had saved her old books and those were the ones I read.)
ReplyDeleteHi Nan. I stand corrected! Thank you. I had no idea what at Titian blonde was until i googled it just now. I knew about the roadster and the coupe part. I love the old stories. But I have a confession: I only started reading them in my 40s. I want to read more. I feel like I missed a whole era. That is so cool that your mom saved her old books and you read those. i wonder, did you like them? alice
ReplyDeleteAbout reading the old versions of Nancy Drews and other kid adventure books from the Thirties and Forties- I loved them, and am still struck by hoe independent and plucky those girls were. (Cherry Ames, the nurse, was accidently but fortuitously at the front lines of WWII.). But every now and then I'd bump up against nasty racial stereotypes and I wouldn't want my little girl to read them.
ReplyDeleteHmmmm....very interesting, Nan. good point. thanks. i hope all is well in your world. alice
ReplyDelete