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When you think of the word "red", what comes to mind? I think most folks immediately think of the color red and their thoughts flow from there. Depending on what you do for a living, perhaps you relate "red" with blood, a shiny apple, a perfect tulip, or perhaps Clifford the Big Red Dog. Red is thought to provoke bold or aggressive emotions. It's a color that can cause a faster heartbeat and breathing. It's supposed to be the most popular restaurant design colors since it's an appetite stimulant. And of course, red is said to be the color of love and passion.
For me, as a RED HEAD, I've always associated the word/color "red" with my hair. Approximately only 1-2% of the world population has red hair. There are also common urban myths about red heads becoming "extinct", which is ridiculous if you think about how genetics word, AND I swear, MN has a really big population of red heads. They are everywhere!!!
I am unable to think of red without connecting the thoughts to my wee ones and my own childhood.
It was apparent from an early age that I was frequently noticed and singled out due to my very red -- almost garishly florescent orange -- hair.
Insert Family Folklore: As newborn babe in the hospital nursery, a daddy escorted his little boy to pick up their newborn. The daddy asked, "Which one do you think is ours?" My dad was watching from the wings. The little boy promptly pointed to me and my glowing hair, which stood out noticeably bright against the blondes, brunettes, and bald little cone heads. When the daddy gently ushered the little boy to his actual sibling (completely bald, I'm told), the little boy threw such a stinking fit that the dad had to carry the flailing boy from the nursery. Growing up hearing that story, I was proud of my red hair color.
Fast forward to elementary school. All of the boys teased me about the flamboyant color. It was the bane of my existence. I was shy when I was younger and didn't like the extra attention my bright, flaming hair brought on.
Fast forward to junior high school and high school. I began to LOVE my red hair. It was now an asset that set me apart from all of the other girls. I remember being so surprised to find that there are actually some guys who really like (and dare I say, prefer) red heads. It was a totally different story to be "the red head" the guy across the room was eyeing! What an advantage -- or at least that is what my 16 year old mind thought.
Fast forward one last time. I'm in my 30's, married, graying quickly (UGH!!!), and three of our four children are red heads.
What does red mean to me now?
Well, truth be told, I think the first thing that comes to mind now days are those famed RED HEADED TEMPERS and their stubbornness! Now, I know that's a stereotype and usually I don't like to blather on about stereotypes... However, after being a red head and now having 3 of them, it's easy to wonder if there is something to be said for their hair color affecting their feisty attitudes and unrelenting pig-headedness.
From my experience as a redhead, I think redheads are noticed more, teased more, singled out, and perhaps even labeled. If that is true, maybe they learn to act differently because of that attention (positive and negative). Do we, as redheads, tend to accept the redhead label as an excuse to act a certain way? Good question. What do you think?
Are redheads unique, passionate, smart and creative? You bet!!!
"Out of the ash I rise
with my red hair.
And eat men like air."
~ Sylvia Plath
P.S. No photo editing on these pictures. My wee ones hair really is this bright!!!
1 comment:
I LOVE LOVE LOVE the red hair quote by Sylvia Plath. I copied it and sent it to my fiery red head buddy! Red is awesome!
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