Monday Musings: Birds, Bobs, and a Television I Can Tolerate
We’ve been in Vancouver for a week now, and it’s been exactly the kind of break I needed. My daughter and I escaped to the forest one day, and I soaked up every minute of it. There’s something about being among the trees that settles me almost immediately, and whenever I’m up here, I try to get as much of that as I can. We breathed in the cool air, listened to the birds, and used the Merlin app to figure out which birds were making all the noise.
I also got my hair cut into a bob. Which I haven’t worn since probably my late forties or early fifties.
My hairdresser here in Vancouver is very careful and precise, which is important because when your hair is thinning, every strand matters. A few careless snips can take months to recover from so I can’t go to someone who’s casual about that.
We talked through all of it…my face shape, hair texture, the thinning, and what might actually help, instead of just sounding promising in the chair. At one point, I told him I didn’t want to look like Little Lord Fauntleroy. He looked vaguely confused, and that’s when I realized the reference may have expired with my generation.
For years, I’ve added layers in hopes of creating more volume. This time, we did the opposite. He cut it blunt, straight across, so you don’t see through the ends as much. He only took off about two inches, but it feels like a completely different approach. I’m still playing with it, but I think I love it. Or at the very least, I’m not standing in front of the mirror feeling like my hair looks straggly. We briefly chatted about going even shorter but I chickened…maybe next time.
We also did something this week that I don’t think we’ve done in more than 24 years. We bought a television.
I realize that sounds completely unremarkable, but it felt strangely significant to me.
I grew up in a house where the TV was broken for a long stretch. The screen didn’t work, so I remember sitting on the floor as a little girl listening to Bewitched and trying to figure out what that funny little sound was. I knew Samantha was twitching her nose, but I couldn’t actually see it. Eventually, the television got fixed, and we’d watch Star Trek together as a family on Sunday nights, but that was about it. My parents read. I read. Television was never the center of our home.
The TV we have in California was handed down to us by our son about 15 years ago, when he upgraded and realized we didn’t even own a smart TV. That tells you pretty much everything.
So walking into a store and actually choosing one together felt deeply out of character. I cared less about the technology than I did about how it would look on the wall. I didn’t want a giant black rectangle looming over the room like a modern monument to poor decorating choices, so we chose a Frame TV. I suspect I’ll appreciate it even more once I can make it pretend to be art.
Which is apparently what happens when your design preferences finally overpower your lifelong indifference to television.
My daughter and I also spent some time browsing the Sephora sale in person. I don’t know if this is universal, but every Sephora I walk into has the same overpowering smell. Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t enjoy being sold products I already know I don’t want, which is why I usually prefer shopping online. But it was more fun with my daughter because she has a much higher tolerance for retail chaos than I do. The place was packed, and I was reminded very quickly why I like to click “add to cart” from the privacy of my own home. Still, I did manage to replace a few things. You can see my other favorites in this post.
So that’s been my week: forest air, a new haircut, and discovering I apparently do have opinions about televisions after all.
Love the hair and I think you lost a few years. Have you tried Nutroful for your hair. Everyone swears by it. Also a good Collegen helps with skin and hair.
I did try it, but they have me on a prescription alternative now.
Love your haircut. It makes you look younger and more relaxed. My long-time home before I retired was in a forest. When I sold it to return to my hometown, one woman who looked at it was afraid of the trees! She did not know I overheard her remark to her husband. Needless to say, they did not buy my house!
wow!
I think your bob suits you. Your hair looks thicker. I’ve had a shorter stacked bob for years. I love it! It’s an easy hair style for me to keep up. I hope the bob works for you too.
Love the cut! I swear we are living parallel lives ( physically anyway). Same height, weight, age and thin hair! I take both minoxidil and Spironolactone. My hairdresser of 30 years ( who was my hair whisperer) retired. The cut makes such a difference.
Then I am in good company with you Cindy!
LOVE your new cut! Are you growing out your bangs? You look even younger if that was possible
I am going to try to. I may always need a tiny fringe so we’ll see.
I absolutely LOVE the new cut!!!!
I just cut my hair to a chin length “sort of bob”. I’ve had long hair most of my life and I still feel odd when I look in the mirror. I went from hair that was half way down my back to this cut. The beauty of it is that I can hide my thinning parts and I can curl it a lot or hardly at all. It only takes me 20 minutes from wash to finish versus the 90 minute drying, curling, velcro rollers thing. I’ve been surprised at the reactions, especially from men. All my grown sons and many of our friends have stopped me and told me how much they love it. At 75, a change was long over due. Bobs are the latest thing, girls! Give them a try!
Yay!
Your hair looks great!!!
Agree on the overpowering Sephora smell. When I go to the Nordstrom Store in Seattle, the beauty department has the same issue. I rush thru it as quick as possible. It’s too bad, because I would like to look at products in person but just can’t deal with all the fragrance. I am so used to shopping online that I think I must have sensory overload when I am actually in a store and maybe that is the reason the smells bother me so much. Good to know I am not alone!
Great haircut! BRAVA!
The cut looks great on you.
Your haircut looks wonderful. So modern and fresh.
I love your new bob haircut. It looks more updated, refreshed and very attractive on you. Great hairdresser too!
Really love the new bob!
Love the new haircut! Stick with short hair. So much more flattering.
Love your new hair cut
And I too feel the same about Sephora – its just too overwhelming for me and I like make up!
Thanks for all your musings! What type of bra would you recommend for a 60 something who can’t find one that fits !
Thank you,
Patricia
You may find some good ones in this post about bras.
Love your haircut, Jennifer! You look beautiful. I, too, tried layers thinking it would make my hair look thicker, but going to a blunt cut really helped.
You look amazing! Great cut.
We share the same hair issues, Jennifer. I so appreciate your ideas and trials. This haircut looks like a winner. Very becoming, and hopefully, easy to maintain. I may have to copy.