Tanner Time: August 2010

There comes a point when a haircut is necessary. Sometimes beyond necessary. I had a woman stop me about 2 weeks ago in a restaraunt and ask me, "Is that your real hair or do you have extensions?" That is a clear sign that a haircut is necessary. Long hair can be a pain - a long time to wash, to dry, to brush, to fix. When a haircut would be the easy way out, I have to remind myself what I am doing it for.

Last week Lauren and I went for our haircuts. It was time to cut off our hair that would be donated to an organization called Locks of Love, which uses the hair to create wigs for children who have lost their hair due to a medical condition. This haircut was my fourth (maybe fifth?) donation. I am weirdly attached to my hair. When it is curly I am happy, no matter how bad the day. I can't imagine being without my hair, much less losing it at such a young age. I am too big of a wimp to donate blood, so when I heard about this organization years ago, I knew this was a project I could get on board with.

Any time I cut my hair I am reminded of my first (or was it my second?) time to donate. I went to Hunstville to visit my grandmother. We thought it would be fun to donate my hair while there and then surprise my family when I returned to Bham with my new haircut. We went to the salon and the hairdresser took her time measuring the hair, putting it in a ponytail, and beginning to cut. As she cut off the ponytail, she began to cry. As she began to even out the remaining hair, she continued to cry. Not out loud, just calm, silent tears. My grandmother an I could only look at each other and wonder what was going on. My grandmother finally asked, "Are you ok?" The hairdresser explained that her daughter lost her hair to a medical condition and received wigs from Locks For Love. She told us she would be thrilled if her daughter received my hair one day. That was it - I was hooked. I knew that this was one way that I could help others by sacrificing a part of myself.

Ok...the part you have been waiting for - the pics. The gold star for bravery goes to Lauren, who didn't have the 10 inches to keep her hair long enough to stay at her shoulders. She definitely made a sacrifice with this donation!

me before

me after (with my donation)

Lauren before

Lauren after (with her donation)

Sisters with new haircuts!

The year I graduated things were different. We wore flared leg jeans, iPods didn't exist, Britney Spears was a rising star, Michael Jackson was the King of Pop, I could only dream of the day I would have a cell phone, Saved by the Bell was as cool as it got, and there was only one high school - Hoover High. Things are different now. Skinny jeans are in, all of my 11 year-olds have a cell phone that plays music, makes calls, texts, and checks facebook, and rap music tops the charts. Ten years ago things were different.

For the most part high school was the worst 4 years of my life. Caught in the midst of teenage angst, I was perceived as a hellion and rebel by my parents, while everyone at school saw me differently - almost a goody-goody. I couldn't understand why my parents thought I was such a heathen while everyone at school couldn't understand why I was such a rule-follower. The division made for some of the toughest years of my life. Early curfews, strict rules, and long punishments were a common part of life for me. Sure, there were high points. I would go back and be on the dance team all over again - band camp, pep rallies, dance camp, football games, morning workouts, and all. I didn't know it then, but there was a passion in my heart for dance that I didn't know existed. I think it was dance team that saved my life and got me through those 4 years. Naturally, when I heard about the ten year reunion, I was not jumping at the chance to go back and relive some of the memories.

As the time got closer and I began to give it more thought and had to decide if I was going to spend the obscene amount of money to stand around and visit with many people I had not talked to in 10 years, a thought hit me. My happiest times in high school were AT school. I looked forward to going to school and hated to come home and I started to wonder why. It wasn't my teachers; sadly I can only name about 5 through my high school career. It wasn't lunch; I remember the food, but not where I sat or who I sat with. It wasn't my classes; while I am sure I learned a lot, I don't remember sitting in a single class. I realized it was my friends. It was the group of girls that I depended on throughout those 4 years to get me through. While they couldn't understand me or what was going on at home, they just loved me unconditionally. They understood when I had to leave at 9:45 to make (or usually miss) my 10:00 curfew all the way through graduation, didn't give me a hard time when I didn't drink, listened to my fuss when I needed someone to talk to, and basically put up with me. I have been fortunate enough to have one of the girls - my solid rock and best friend - with me in Birmingham all these years, but after finding out ALL the other girls were flying/driving in from Florida, Texas, Wisconsin, and Mississippi, going to the reunion was an indisputable must.

I said it all week and it became true. I told Matt I was not glad I was going, but I would be glad I went. I can't say I enjoyed the dress shopping or getting ready, but the weekend turned out to be one of the best ones in months - despite that my feet have not hurt so badly since the day of my wedding.

The best part of the weekend (for me) was lunch. Getting all the girls at the same lunch table chatting, gossiping, giggling, and remembering made me feel like Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City. There was a moment where I sat back as the girls talked and had to remind myself that it really had been 10 years since the last time we were all together at the same table and my heart started to ache when I realized it would probably be another 10 before it happened again. The reunion was a great time as well, but I knew it could not top lunch. It really was great to catch up and see so many people that I had not talked with in years. I was amused at how tough reunions must have been before facebook. I already had a pretty good idea of which classmates already had kids, where they were living, and their career from status updates and posts on facebook. I even won an award for "least surprising career path." I must admit that I smiled as I looked at the certificate on the way home, since one of the few things I have never doubted in my life is that I was meant to be a teacher. I found it fascinating that others must have seen that in me 10 years ago. I spent time catching up with good friends, former prom dates, elementary school friends, and of course - the girls. We had a great time dancing and reminiscing and joking about the fact that I didn't have a curfew!

Here are a few shots from the night. I was disappointed when I got home and saw there were only about ten pictures on the camera.

Me and Christin