When we first met Sailor Boy, he was a skinny kid with freckles and short curly hair. He was the first of our extras to grow his hair long, beginning a trend that first Shaggy Hair, and then eventually all of my boys adopted. (Despite the many photos of long-haired teenage boys on my blog, long hair for boys is not the norm in this part of the country. Not at all.) Sailor Boy's easy-going personality and scientific mind made him a good fit for our household. He's played Monster here and stayed up late playing computer games with the other boys; he's come to camp with us – and posed for hair photos.
Sailor Boy went to school with my daughter; we've known him since seventh grade. He comes by his pseudonym honestly; he is an experienced sailor who races Hobie Cats. Even after my daughter went to college, she kept in touch with Sailor Boy, and they've been dating since last May. The photograph above shows them deep in talk up at camp Memorial Day weekend.
Today we say goodbye to Sailor Boy. He will leave in the morning to begin his career in the Coast Guard. Leaving behind his friends, his family, and even his laptop computer, he will fly to a southern city alone to begin basic training. By tomorrow at this time, his long hair will be shaved off.
15 comments:
PPB: Locks for Love is a great idea. I don't know why I didn't think of it before. My nieces have both donated hair before so I know there are places here that participate. I'll call Sailor Boy on his cell phone and see if he has time to donate his hair in the morning.
I think this is difficult for my daughter. She leaves for London in another week so she will be making a big transition as well. I guess it's all part of growing up.
Wow, they're both going far away. I love the idea of Locks of Love, I donate to them everytime my hair gets long enough.
What a difficult transition for them both. Well, hell, for you too. Many good thoughts for all of you....
I drop in to read your blog from time to time and just happened to catch it today, right before sailor boy leaves. I wish him the best of luck and the same to your daughter -- and to you! Peace and blessings. Kathy in Berea, Kentucky
Best of luck to Sailor Boy. Please post updates on his progress at Boot Camp.
As you may know by now I also have an obsession with water and the ocean. When I was in college I had dreams of joining the Coast Guard so I could be by the sea all the time. But there's that damn problem with authority which kept me from following through. I wish him well and will be looking forward to updates on his big adventure.
Wow. Lots of transitions, for you and for them.
The photo is wonderful. It captured the moment well.
They're both off to amazing adventures. Godspeed.
If his hair is getting shaved, he'd have plent of hair to donate. I don't think the military would donate it, though. I think he'd have to cut it before he left.
I had a guy on the basketball team grow out his hair for LOL, he did it because his cousin had cancer, and had particularly asked for "boy hair" for his wig.
Probably too much to add to an already stressful departure.
Oh, poor jo(e) this is the first time you'll have one of your kids out of reach for a long period of time....
many changes. best to him! and oh, boy, your daughter leaving soon, too. xoxo
it is probably far too late for this to be useful, but i seem to remember that LoL needs hair to be rubber-banded in hunks before cutting. sailor boy has lovely hair.
Best of luck to Sailor Boy and youe daughter as they set off on their new paths.
All the best for both Sailor Boy and your daughter. Both are being very adventurous in their paths.
Sailor Boy does have gorgeous hair, the best part is that it grows back :).
I'll be thinking of both of them during this time of transition. I hope his training and her study abroad go well!
Best wishes for Sailor Boy and your daughter too as they figure out their places in the world.
RT donated his hair to Locks of Love. It's a great charity.
I hope all goes well for Sailor Boy and your daughter.
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