Not the best month for me; I shaved my head because of the head lice. Which I got from a hairdresser on a movie set here in Hawaii. Note to all actors: unless you’re fine with shaving your head, take all your own brushes.
Spiritually, it’s sure been a test. I am the only person I know who rally likes their hair…liked, I mean…just as is. Ever since I was a girl I wanted long hair. I had an elastic-waist skirt I’d put on my head and pretend it was my hair. Just before I got the lice, it was down to my waist. When I walked, it would gently tap my waist with each step. Long. thick…the perfect haven for a headful of treatment-resistant had lice. It only takes one louse to create a thoroughly infested headful of biting, crawling, nit-laying lice. Having had lice several times when I was a teacher, I’m aware that long hair is almost like an extended hand of invitation to lice.
When I started battling this go-round, I began to think about detachment from things of this world. There are a lot of writings in the Baha’i Faith about not placing much importance on material things. One is a story about a Persian holy man wo talked a king into leaving all his riches. When they started to walk away from the palace, the holy man realized he’d left his one possession; a wooden bowl. The holy man wanted to go back and get it; the king admonished him for preaching detachment from possessions and yet being unable to detach from his bowl.
So I’m trying to be detached from my long, beautiful, satisfying hair….*sob*
Physically, it’s an interesting experience. I have a headful of stubble. Sticks to everything. Like cilia (little waving hairs), it makes caps and scarves creep over my head. Sticks to the pillow. I do know that the lice are gone. And that my scalp is very relieved not to have their presence.
