1/2 step away from being bald

Cyndi's dad is mostly bald. He's had the same look, save going from dark to gray, since his late 20's. It's the Cookie the Clown look. Not that he's a clown, but Cookie had the same style. Hair on the sides and back, nothing--bald as a baby's behind--on the top and front. I've often suggested that he just take the leap. Shave the rest off and go full-on bald. He'd like to do it too, but he's a sucker for love. Cyndi's mom doesn't think he should go full-on bald, so, in an effort to keep his wife happy, he's never taken my suggestion. I don't blame him. Sometimes the easy things "to do for love" are the ones that make all of the difference.

I'm not sure, but since Cyndi's male role model (her father) has been follicly challenged all of her life, she prefers short hair. Quite honestly, she'd love it if I was bald myself. She likes the look.

While I don't think I could ever take the leap myself, I've played with the number on the clippers over the years. I've gone from a #3, to a #2 and stayed at #2 for over a year. You can kind of see scalp, and much of the gray is masked (my issue). Earlier this summer, I decided to try a #1. When I shave my head at home, a #1 is 1/8". You can see more of the scalp and less of the gray, but there is a thin layer of hair that keeps me in the not-bald category. If I take the time to go to the local barber shop (Beardsley's), and if I ask for a #1 there, they proceed to cut without a guard on the clippers. I like to cut my hair every couple of weeks or so. Paying $15 + tip every two weeks seems a ridiculous waste to me. While I like going to Beardsley's--an old school barber shop, complete with straight edge razor blades and everything (minus the Playboy magazines...Joe, the proprietor of the shop, is a minister)--I'm just too cheap. If I can do it myself, when it comes to hair, that is--I'll figure out a way to do it.

I needed a haircut this morning. I've been contemplating going sans guard. Since I won't be seeing any clients for a couple of weeks, I figured, "what the hell." I'm not follicly challenged like my father-in-law. It grows back.

I went without the guard, and I'm now 1/2 step away from being bald. You can definitely see scalp on my noggin. The only time I considered actually shaving my head was when my father was under treatment for cancer. My brothers and I vowed that if he lost his hair, we'd join him. He didn't lose his hair. In fact, it seemed like it got thicker. And more gray. Maybe, since I really have not embraced the gray I have, I should consider taking the leap. I've dipped my toes in the pool, but I'm not so sure if the water's warm.