Wednesday, July 25, 2012

The Dying Art of Conversation

I went to a baby shower the other day at a restaurant and there were a few kids there.  After everyone ordered and we were waiting the adults were all chatting, but the kids were glued to various hand held games (DS, smartphone, my not-so-smart phone).  I looked at my mother and indicating the children said, "This is why conversation is a dying art." 

Conversation, the art of conversing, used to be a taught skill.  In Victorian novels an accomplished woman could sew, paint, play the piano, sing and CONVERSE.  This is of course before smartphones, TVs or even radio.  When adults gathered they relied on each other for entertainment.  One of the things that made men respected, women attractive and children the pride of their parents was the ability to carry on a conversation on a variety of topics and with the proper amount of familiarity, respect, wit and humor.

I've decided to bring this art form back with my sons.  No more passing them my phone whenever they have to wait for more than 10 minutes.  More family dinners around the table.  They will learn to converse (not conversate...major pet peeve) intelligently. 

What do you think?

Monday, July 9, 2012

Introducing the GC (Gradual Chop)

Just a little hair update...

I've been transitioning for a few months now.  I'm not really sure how long since it took awhile before I was definitely going natural as opposed to just late on my next relaxer.  So anyway, my loving husband has been urging me to cut my hair.  Among naturalistas this is referred to as the "Big Chop" or BC.  I decided pretty early on that this wasn't really an option as far as I was concerned.  I don't like my face too much with short hair and this would be super short hair!  Now the transitioning journey generally still ends with a BC, when after a few inches of natural hair has grown all the remaining relaxed hair is cut.  I don't have the emotional fortitude for a BC. 

Now I haven't seen it anywhere else, so I don't know if this is a thing or not, so I'm introducing the GC...Gradual Chop.  According to experts hair grows a 1/2 inch per month.  Every month I cut approximately 1-2 inches of hair.  Not only am I cutting it faster than it's growing but I'm cutting relaxed length in exchange for curly length.  Bottom-line is my hair is getting shorter, I'm getting closer and closer to a head full of natural hair only and I'm learning how to deal with less and less "rescue hair", which is what I call the relaxed hair that I use to cover natural hair when a style has gone very wrong, very flat or is non-existent.

Imagine Linus (from Peanuts) having his blanket cut shorter and shorter until he's finally left with a pocket square...