white hair

This was written a few years back when I had but a very few strands of white hair..

Combing through my hair the other day, I stared at my compact and noticed something white and shiny nestled in between the black strands. Hmmmm, I wondered, ano yon?

     "White hair!" I shrieked, startling both Ned and Naki who were staring outside as we waited for the car in front of us to start moving. "May puti na 'kong buhok," I said, still not quite believing it. "Puti nga," I repeated as if brain-washing my mind into believing it.

      My brain and I have this thing going -- as long as I don't see any tangible proof - ie. white hair - then  I believe I'm still young. Young, as in opposite of old, and not "feeling young".

     When before I could proudly say that I had no white hair unlike most of my friends and cousins, I didn't have that luxury anymore. My preening days are over. I am now a member of their not so exclusive club. I can now, in fact, sing Kahit Maputi na ang Buhok Ko with great conviction.

      No longer can I smirk so smugly at Ned as I pull out the zillions of uban on his head. I'll have mine, too. Oh gosh, perhaps I'll even have to plead with him to pull mine out!

      I could turn this into something really positive, my opitimistic side suggested. Maybe now's the time to get that dye, as the people who cut my hair, always tell me to. Let's see, what color would best suit me? Flaming orange to compliment the color of Chug-A-Bug (our lovable orange Volkswagen Beetle)? Blue 'coz it's Naki's favorite color? Maybe a shade of green since it's my current favorite color. I know! Something really seductively saucy as copper, burgundy, chestnut brown, mahogany or aubergine. But since I'm not the sexy type (no matter what Ned says while trying to keep his face straight), those hair colors may make me look more like a vegetable or a tree.

     Waaaaaah! I howled still staring at the mirror and holding that darn white hair between my fingers. "Ang tanda ko na!" I wailed to Ned. He just looked at me with amusement, his eyes fixed on the road. My son? He was not that kind. "You're weird, Nay!" he muttered as if I were the lowliest vermin on earth.

      "Well, where did you think you got it from?" I shot back.

      And so the triumphant Nanay, with the single strand of white hair in her hand smirked in delight. Bwahahaha, I may be growing old, but I can still be smart alecky young.