Sunday, December 28, 2008

Al's Project 365 (progress)


I'm not a photographer. So these will be quite simple. I am hardly a storyteller. So please be patient. I've seen these before and got a kick out of them. Read this update, then click the photo to see mine. Hope you get a kick:

12/28/2008

Getting a head start on 2009. Pun much? For those who know me, you'll notice I look differently than I did just last week. For those who don't know me, last week I had a full pate of luxurious, jet black hair. Now gone. Clippers met my scalp on Christmas eve. Ten cousins, uncles and I did so in support of Noe. Noe, my uncle, was diagnosed with bone cancer a month ago. He has a better-than-nothing chance of remission, but he has one hell of a fight this coming year. We, his family, are with him. I wasn't sure how shaving my head was going to help him. I hoped, at the very least, he would find it funny. He did. Mission accomplished.


I didn't think I would do it. I had every reason not to do it. Apparently the plan had been made the week before, but I wasn't there, so my abstention was counted as an aye. The 'ayes,' it seemed, had it in spades. But once the first head went down, I understood. Noe wouldn't have the option of using my excuses and a cold head was the very least of his concerns. So I took to the chair, second in line, and learned something about myself I'd suspected, but never really knew for sure. In the end, it was staring right at me. Everyone else knew about it, but I had ignored it, denied it... turned a blind eye to it. I watched the revelry around me. My family, proud of themselves and each other, loud and exuberant. Even my drunken sister's ghetto howls were annoyingly festive. We had united this holiday. Something we hadn't really done in years. Over the last few I'd felt a splintering, a division growing larger every year. Understandably. We all had our priorities and we all are very focused on our homes and the needs of our immediate family. But here we all were, one purpose, one focus and yet I was still distracted. Don't get me wrong. I had a great time and I love my family very, very much. But my self-discovery dampened the joyful evening. What did I find? I'm almost embarrassed to say, but I made a promise to be completely honest on Al Can Blog, so I really have no choice. I only hope some readers can empathize, perhaps help me through this thing....

I have an uneven hairline.