Seven Days

Curls

Remember? The first time you took your first born for a hair cut? Maybe for mothers of boys it's more of an event. Happens sooner? I don't know. It was important. Soft, shiny little curls falling to the floor like a whisper of the future to come. I have one of them tucked safely in an envelope. Then they start to grow up. There's the phase where they let it grow out for a while? You walk in the door one afternoon and it's all gone? 

It will always grow back...

Today, after a long, long day, I returned home for dinner to find the military cut he'll need to sport for the next 12 or 13 weeks. It still comes as somewhat of a shock. It helps me laugh at myself. 

He used to grow his hair long in protest because his dark hair and skin tone almost guarantees that the US TSA a**holes stop him at airports. 100% of the time, if his hair is long and his beard is anything unkempt it takes him forever to get through an airport. I know they have a job to do but it seems like the power hungry, self important ones should be weeded out. You know what I mean. I hate to say it but the female TSA agents are the worst. Especially in small airports like Rochester NY. They sneer down their self important noses at him as if he's not quite good enough and must be a terrorist. 

His passport, his MMC and TWIC cards are sitting on the kitchen table like a black travel wallet beacon warning me there are just hours left. 

Ahh...wait. Wait. Regroup. The danger from the power driven seems so at odds with those whisper light curls. Bad/Good. Innocence lost. ACH! Back to those soft little curls that seem so Sampson-like, you're hesitant to snip them off. Strength like innocence should be kept at all costs? Perhaps not. Each at their own risk. A mother could drown worrying that what's been done can't be undone or was interpreted in the wrong light. 

The curls are gone. He's ready. Last evening of Steam - which truth be told - I don't know what that means. I don't know what games it drives or the friends he argues and laughs with during one game or another. Just that I need to log on every week to let it update a midst ten different, if this, then that. I should probably write it down, but I'll get used to it. 

Don't worry if you need to reboot. Hard shut downs happen. He can't take it with him. No room aboard ship. He's packed. Proud that I didn't peek or re-add anything he's already taken out. I can do 14 months. NP. I know how to reboot. Happens all the time.