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A Tale of a Tail
Ah, retirement ... as some readers know, retirement can create so many changes in one's life. My new-found absence from a regular job has been overwhelmingly happy thus far. But I'm only officially into my fourth month of retired status. After 35 years as a middle school teacher, my day is no longer determined by the sound of a bell. I've found myself at my computer at 3 in the morning or visiting with friends at 10 in the morning or cooking a pizza at midnight. I've been engulfed with this amazing sense that time is a lot less relevant. I've even caught myself some days not wearing my watch! What is wrong with me?
This new sense of freedom has also carried over into my most recent project -- growing a ponytail! Yes, I want a ponytail! For my entire life I have had people tell me to "get a haircut." Finally, at the age of 57, there is no one standing in my way! I'm a "baby-boomer," and we grew up in the decade of psychedelic rock, flower power, and, yes, long hair.
However, in my high school years (1962-1966) Coach John Flynn and Coach Shorty Flynn and Coach Bill Flynn all were certain that guys with short hair played better. And in those days coaches were not to be questioned. So it was a "flat-top" with a "little dab'll do ya" to make it look good.
When I entered college in the late sixties I saw my chance to grow my hair long and rebel a bit. However, shortly after high school graduation, I was hired by the owners of Gus's Red Hots to be a short-order cook. When I tried to grow my hair longer Gus noticed. Somehow he had the idea that guys with short hair cooked better. So it was back to the barber shop for me! I loved the job at Gus's (Gus Niforos and Pete Larios are well-remembered) and kept it for all four years of college.
Finally, my first teaching job came along in 1970, and with the freedom of being a teacher and making a decent salary, I saw my chance to let my hair grow. No such luck! Along came Uncle Sam with a draft notice. It seems the United States Army had this idea that guys with short hair made better soldiers. Hence, I spent the next six years in the United States Army Reserves, passing inspections with a neat haircut.
By the time the late seventies rolled around I was married and my wife was certain that guys with short hair made better husbands and "looked so much younger." Since I was approaching my 30s I was looking for every edge possible and agreed to continue regular barber shop visits. As time moved on in my life, a second wife also entered the picture, a younger wife who felt "the old Fox looked so much younger" with short hair. So, again, to keep harmony in the home, I passed through my 40s and into my 50s with a bald skull framed neatly with short brown hair.
Ah, retirement ... finds me with no wife, no regular job, and happier than I've been in years! Could it be because I haven't visited a barber shop in such a long time? Finally, no one to tell me to "get a haircut." So, if you see me someplace, just humor me. Let me grow my hair long, and enjoy for the first time in my life something that has evaded me for 57 years -- a ponytail!
Hey, I may grow it, hate it and cut it off the next day. I'm anxious for the day I can wrap a hair-tie around my flowing locks and officially declare, "I have a ponytail." That day is arriving soon. And despite some warnings from friends that I'll be "just another wierd old guy with a ponytail," I am forging on. With a hairbrush the size of Texas, I take pleasure brushing my long hair each morning. Ah, retirement ... freedom to take on new challenges!
Comments
hey,,,,,,grow it and i will cut it for locks of love.....(your brother goose and sister darlene were class mates of mine at st john`s) enjoy this site! happy new year
Posted by: punki duhaime | January 5, 2006 10:14 PM
Well, Fox, if growing a pony tail is THAT important to you, then, by all means, go for it!
I loved reading about all the reasons that people in your life have had over the years to discourage the growing of the tail.
I must say, I'll look forward to the day, whenever that might be, that you decide "OK, that was fun. Now it's time again for a shorter, neater, younger look".
Ponytail or not....I love ya!
Posted by: Gale Carroll | December 24, 2005 8:03 AM
Hi Foxy-
Let the hair grow and show us what you look like without the beard!
Posted by: Wendy LaForest | December 23, 2005 2:18 PM
Hey Cousin, Greetings from Texas. Enjoyed Tale of a tail and retirements freedom. Went the other direction to celebrate first day of retirement - a few strokes with my favorite razor, slick as a cue ball.
Like the blog, will try to stop by now & again. Happy trails.
(Foxy's note: JMan is my cousin Jim, who now lives in Keller, Texas.)
Posted by: JMan | December 22, 2005 8:23 PM
Foxy,
I don't think you should grow your hair out. I think it looked fine the way it was. And long hair has nothing to do with cooking. LOL.
~Bri
Posted by: Bri | December 22, 2005 7:06 PM
Foxy, hate to tell you but the shortness of your hair did nothing to help you cook better. Your blog has brought back some fond memories of the "good old days".
Hmmm?
Posted by: George Niforos | December 22, 2005 5:54 PM
My brother, George, emailed me the link to read your new blog and he specifically told me to read about "Tales of a Tail." I really had to laugh and at the part of my father telling you to get your hair cut. At least you only had to put up with it for four years from him. I had to listen to it until the day I got married and then my wife took over. Doesn't that sound familiar? Anyway, it brought back many memories of the good old days when someone I remember was afraid to take the trash out because of the bugs that lived in the outside lights. It also made me choke up a bit as I miss the two of them so very very much. I'm proud to be the son of a man that apparantly made an impact on your life and hopefully others.
Keep up the good stories, because you have a reader for life in Tampa.
Posted by: Peter Niforos | December 22, 2005 3:34 PM