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Heads & Tails
It had to happen eventually -- the debut of Foxy Gagnon's ponytail. I waited until I figured all the karma was right. I didn't want this to be a disaster, a failure, something that would send me running for the shelter of my home, something that would turn me into a reclusive pony-tailed weird old man. I chose what I thought would be a safe haven, a place where I had spent 35 working years, Stafford Middle School. Surrounded by my former colleagues, most of whom, I felt, would understand that this is just Foxy making another step towards adulthood, I felt all signs pointed to today as the right day and to Stafford as the right place.
I arrived at SMS today as a substitute teacher. I was armed with a clipboard, plenty of loose leaf paper, a pen, a pencil, a book ... and a hair-tie. I arrived early intentionally and noticed an eighth-grade girl, Cortney, who I had known for two years. Showing her my blue hair-tie, I asked her to assist me in getting my longer-than-ever locks into a ponytail. She graciously offered a more-masculine-looking black hair-tie and I immediately felt I was on my way to a successful debut.
In less than a minute, Cortney said, "There!" I could feel that the hair was off my neck and it felt odd pulled back into a bunch at the back of my head. So I was ready now to face the public... with the debut of my long-awaited ponytail! It didn't take long for my former colleagues to take note of my short ponytail. The first remark involved the word "scissors," and then I heard a few women say, "Cute, very cute." Yikes! Cute isn't exactly what I was hoping for! "Cute" is what describes a third-grade girl's ponytail, not one belonging to a 57-year-old macho man sportsman with a name like "Foxy."
My first official day in a ponytail brought a wide variety of comments. The worst moment was perhaps when a young colleague with a neat crop of curly brown hair said, "You look like a private investigator who wishes he could work with Nash Bridges on Miami Vice." My best moment came when a seventh-grade girl named Meghan interrupted my lecture about New England colonies to say, "I like your ponytail."
All day I resisted the urge to just rip that hair-tie out and give up on the experiment. I persevered. I think the jury is still out on whether a ponytail truly belongs on the back of my bald head. With Nina, my hairdresser (how can a bald man have a hairdresser?), to keep me neat, and with Cortney to give me lessons on ponytail creating, I've got at least two people in my corner. Who said that ponytails are only for girls?
Comments
Hey foxy, I think you should keep the ponytail. And the reason I say that is the girl who said "I like your ponytail" in the middle of class was my friend Jordan. And you gave her a cream saver. Well just so you know I passed that test with a B!
Posted by: Maria | February 9, 2006 9:22 PM
Hey Fox, where is the love? I think you should keep the ponytail, you've worked way too hard to get this far, so might as well rock it out!
Posted by: Gus Terry | January 29, 2006 7:34 PM
I haven't seen W's opinion. Surely he has a thought on this subject since he seems to have an opinion on everything.
Posted by: J | January 29, 2006 3:28 PM
Please don't grow a ponytail. The only "ponytails" I've seen that look natural are on Native Americans. Gives them a very masculine, natural look. Everyone else looks like they are trying to relive the 60's in their 60's. Run, don't walk to the nearest barbershop. Notice I didn't say the hair salon. Real men go to a barbershop.
Posted by: J | January 29, 2006 11:51 AM
Foxy, love ya but dump the ponytail idea. Stick with that "reverse Mowhawk" look you got going!
Posted by: the carver | January 28, 2006 8:36 AM
Hummmmmmmm...How did I miss seeing you with your pony tail???? Must be you were avoiding me!!! Next time you're subbing...trot through the G-Wing! (No cantering allowed!!!)
GC
Posted by: Gale Carroll | January 28, 2006 12:18 AM
Hard for us out in cyber space to comment on the pony tail without a photo of it.
(Foxy's note: Good point, Uncle Ralphe. Will work on your idea. Time for me to learn how to add photos to my blog.)
Posted by: Uncle Ralphe | January 27, 2006 10:39 PM
Fox,
The thing about a pony tail is that you have to remember (on the pony) what the pony tail is covering. For you I would prefer to call it a mane.
Posted by: Stellar | January 26, 2006 9:12 PM
Foxy, If I known you were going to grow a pony tail I could have saved you the trouble of growing one and saved you mine that I cut off 2 years ago. And I was 52 at the time. Don"t cut it till I see you so I can make my own judgment. lol
Kevin Shatraw
Posted by: Kevin Shatraw | January 26, 2006 7:25 PM
Foxy, you look like my dad. I think you need to get rid of it. It also looks ok I guess.
~MARKYELLEN~
Posted by: markyellen | January 26, 2006 5:35 PM
Foxy, I can't believe you actually have a ponytail! I never thought you would ever do it. Hopefully I'll be able to see it at one of the basketball games or something. Hopefully you won't get too many negative comments about it.
~Bri
Posted by: Bri | January 26, 2006 5:32 PM