I’m Thinking I Might Need Another Blue Streak in My Hair

My new dating life may call for it

I walk through our garage door and into the family room. My youngest son is on the couch watching television. I walk over to say hello before continuing into the kitchen.

“Wait a minute,” he says. “Is that a blue streak in your hair?”

I detect a hint of shock.

“Maybe,” I say.

“You’re kidding me, right?” he says with outright protest. “The woman who won’t let me get a tattoo just dyed her hair blue.”

“Yup,” I say. “But if you want to dye your hair go ahead and knock yourself out.”

At 17, he’s not happy with my smart-ass reply.

“It’s not permanent,” I say attempting to emphasize the difference.

A few days later I met my friend for lunch.

It’s the first time she’s seen my blue streak.

“Oh my gosh,” she says laughing. “You’re going to meet a guy and he’s going to think you’re wild and you’re so not wild.”

Now we’re both laughing.

What she’s attempting to say is that while I dated a fair amount in high school and college, I ended up with two long-term boyfriends. One in high school and one in college starting my sophomore year.

Some of my other friends are shocked and some love it.

There are a few Katy Perry references.

My sisters are all for it.

I’m a few years into my never-ending divorce with no escape. Can you blame me? There is little in my life within my control. I’ve just gotten a decent short-term contract job for content writing and digital strategy.

I get my hair done for the first time in a long time.

This is my tiny moment of liberation.

“I can’t get away from him but I can do what I want and be who I want to be.”

It’s a small amount of sass…from a girl who used to be a lot feistier if necessary. I wore it for a few years and finally went fully back to my mousy brown.

But now I’m dating.

I’m thinking of resurrecting the blue streak.

It’s the second time throughout divorce I’ve felt somewhat emancipated.

Like I can finally not give a sh*t about a lot of things. Like I don’t have to worry quite as much as I used to. Like I just don’t care. It’s a welcome relief.

The blue streak was never meant to shock anyone.

I did it strictly for myself.

There’s an actress who has the same slight blue streak in her hair. Her name is Lauren Koslow. I always liked that you had to lean in to see if there was truly a hint of blue underneath her brunette hair.

It was subtle but sexy.

I’ve always joked that I talk too much to be sexy.

Throw in my volume and it definitely quells that feature.

But now I’m dating.

I’m thinking of resurrecting the blue streak.

A little excitement for this mousy brown.

At the very least, maybe he’ll think I’m wild.