It's been MONTHS since I've done anything to my hair. I dyed it dark in October for my mom's cancerversary and haven't done anything to it since. It's obviously been growing out but it's not super noticeable in fluorescent lighting so I didn't bother doing anything about it since half of my lights are off in my classroom on a regular basis. I use(d) Christmas lights for additional light because my room becomes a furnace when the heat kicks on so I use the Christmas lights for ambiance but also to keep the room from getting hot(ter). ANYWAY, the point is you can't tell my hair is striped in that environment.
But being at home 24/7 and in natural light it is scary. I have a line of demarcation around my head like a jacked up halo. Funny story: the first day of the spring break that hasn't ended I made a to do list and at the top of the list, under "Be awesome," is "Call for hair appointment.
Insert maniacal laughter here. Needless to say that hasn't happened and I couldn't continue with the way that it was so I did a thing. I ordered dye from Madison Reed. No. Not Ashley Madison (the "dating" website), Madison Reed...a super reputable and upscale-ish at home color company. Apparently they have color bars across the United States but it doesn't matter because they're all closed and that does me no good. Besides I'd never cheat on the guy who does my hair. He's wonderful!
Anyway. Remember how the post office lost my package when they prematurely forwarded it and then it reappeared? Well, I got the notification that my package had been received but apparently they still shipped the second box to me so I'm not sure what's going to happen there (I will try to return it because I'm honest) but today, after my Zoom meeting, I decided to just do it.
I was terrified. It's not really any lighter (maybe just a little bit) which is fine because I wasn't really trying to lighten it but it IS even now. I feel super accomplished, too. It's just hair dye...whatever...but I did it! If teaching doesn't work out it's always good to have a backup plan.
After I did my hair I went to check on my mom (today was chemo day) then came home to do a FaceTime tour, and then I went on some driveway visits. I wound up seeing SEVEN of them tonight (I'm up to 10 now...11 if you count that I've seen one of them twice) and I was overwhelmed by how happy they were to see me and how surprised they were when I told them it's been over a month since we've seen each other. All but one of them had no idea I was coming so watching their faces when they saw who was at the door was so much fun!
Not only were they thrilled to see me but their parents! Their parents were straight up surprised that I would take the time to come over. They tried to feed me and hydrate me. They insisted that I sit down, come inside, take a tour...it was so sweet! One of my girls had a little brother who picked a flower and gave it to me and then tried to hand me a baby chick...NOTHANKYOUVERYMUCH. His sister was dying laughing because she knows I hate birds of any kind.
Another kid HAD to play his guitar for me and I got to explain this week's assignment IN PERSON while his brother said, "Wait. You're in AP?! What?" and the kid said, "I know...sometimes I forget, too."
Yet another (the one I'd already seen once) literally came outside, got the thing I was dropping off, grabbed his backpack out of his truck, and went back inside after saying, like, 5 words. A little while later I get a message, "OMG I NEVER SAID THANKS. Thank you for the k cup. Damn." So that was a good time.
My last visit was a kid that asks so many questions in class...and very rarely do they have ANYTHING to do with what I'm teaching, so I started giving him a post-it note at the beginning of class so he could write down any questions that he might have. I answer them at the end of class. I actually miss that. It was super fun to talk to him and his parents. He proudly brought me a picture of himself as a little kid and announced that he looked GOOOOOD.
Each visit, each bright smile, each face where you can literally see the realization that I absolutely care dawn on their faces...it's so worth it. They're worth it. But the most heartbreaking part is that not all of them THINK they are worth it.
I can't wait to see who I get to see tomorrow! :)
Aubs
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