blogwaffe

As mentioned before, one of the more entertaining aspects of Christmas this year was going home and seeing how well people recognized me. Mom and Dad seemed to have no trouble, but a lot of people at church had no idea who I was, even when I was sitting with my family.

The best comment was given to my mother after church: “Now, when Michael came home, were you expecting him to look like that?” Hilarious. A close second was the reaction given when I was introduced by Mom to someone at the dollar store. She looked honestly afraid and took her first opportunity to back away and leave the store.

That kind of reaction I don’t really understand. I mean, go ahead, think I’m ugly; you won’t bother me. But why did long hair and a beard incite fear into this (presumably) otherwise nice middle aged lady? Does scragly facial hair instantly turn me into a rapist or a murderer or, worse, a hippie?

Well, I passed the gramma test, anyway. She didn’t bat an eye. And none of my other relatives took much notice either, likely because I was upstaged by a cousin of mine with a tremendous beard and significantly longer hair.

I was thinking about getting rid of it all come new years, but now I think it’s here to stay for a while.