dual personalities

We’ve had some major wind storms in recent weeks — nothing like the tornadoes that they get in the Midwest, but destructive nonetheless. While I was away on my epic road-trip, one such storm dropped a tree right across the driveway at our cottage.

The same wind broke another tree, sending half squarely onto our newly finished sun-room.

Here’s another view.

Then it proceeded to rain for days and days, ruining the ceiling, walls, and floor of the room.

That’s an up-side-down boot rack with a foot-stool and antlers perched on top, in case you wondered. You can also see the leaking ceiling and sodden floor.

We finally got someone to put a tarp over the roof, so the leaking stopped, but we are still waiting for the insurance people to decide what the repairs are worth. It took weeks for the adjuster to come, but he had to drive all the way from Rochester, so the delay is (mostly) forgivable.

The whole episode has been something of a circus, what with driving back and forth, missed calls, and key exchanges, and we are frustrated to have the new work ruined. Yet, I know how lucky we are: the storm damaged camp, not home; no one was hurt, and we have insurance. It made me think about the devastation that wind causes.

Wind is scary.

“Voiceless it cries,
Wingless flutters,
Toothless bites,
Mouthless mutters.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit

Remember Joplin, Missouri?

23 May 2011. ABC. EPA/LARRY W. SMITH

Unlike people who knowingly build houses in perilous locations vulnerable to flooding, mudslides, avalanches, or volcanoes, no one can avoid the wind. Next time you want to donate some money to a charity, you might consider giving to the Red Cross Tornado Relief Fund.

I know I will.

*”The End of the World” from Beyond the Fringe (1961).

Hairdo fashions come and go, and they are often quite terrible, but the recent (re)-emergence of the man bun invites comment. Thankfully, the style has not been widely adopted, though one does come across it. In fact, a recent visitor to my north country campus looked a lot like this man:

In a job applicant, the look felt a little aggressive, but he was a nice guy.  I find it difficult to interpret hair these days, since I gather that each detail sends a message to those in the know. It’s all about personal expression, right? Four thousand years ago the man bun signaled kingly power.

Sargon or Naram-Sin of Akkad (3rd millennium BC)

Japanese samurai sported a similar look, but with the added nuance of the shaved forehead.

One recognizes a certain practicality in the style. For the warrior or athlete, long locks can be dangerous. An opponent can grab loose hair and it can obstruct one’s view. The top-knot offers a practical solution to the problem for Welsh soccer star Gareth Bale.

Hair-styling and personal adornment have played important roles throughout history, and the media has misrepresented just about all of them. Remember Richard Basehart’s outstanding hair in Kings of the Sun?

I crown thee, King Bad-hair Shorty-shirt!

That is one mighty man-bun wig, and it’s gray, so we know that the character is wise. That hair added a certain je ne sais quoi to the film, but left leading man Yul Brynner wondering why he didn’t get an elaborate up-do.

where’s my big hair?

At least those designers attempted period accuracy (as they understood it anyway). Nowadays, they just do whatever they think looks cool, with quite outrageous results. Do they really think the Vikings looked like this?

Weren’t Vikings scary enough without the pseudo-Dreadlocks, shaved sides, and head tattoos? Apparently historical accuracy should not intrude on our entertainment.

The lesson in all of this? Don’t take personal  grooming too far. Keep the hair simple and classic, gentlemen. Let your good looks and personality shine for themselves. And keep laughing!

Just in case anyone wonders, this post evolved from my reaction to a photo I came across of a young Daniel Craig sporting a period hairdo in the 1996 Moll Flanders mini series.

Words fail me.

One thing led to another, and presto, here we are discussing bad hair.

*all photos found on Google image.