SURVIVAL
(Continuation of the manuscript based on 2 Tim. 3:1-2)
It got even more troubling for the great generations, shoe fashion was on the move as well, and not just in the tennis shoes that went from black and white to technicolor like the TV.
Penny loafers and wingtips were being towered over and tossed aside for the new style, the platform shoes. The taller and thicker the sole the better.And just when those tougher-n’-nails generations thought that the sissification of society couldn’t get any worse… it did. They could never in their wildest imaginations dream anything could get any worse than long hair on guys… but it did; hand held blow dryers for men. It was bad enough that men had hair long enough to be able to dry it like girls, but style it like them too? Sensory overload.
I got my first handheld blow dryer for Christmas my freshman year in high school… My dad didn’t say much. He’d already surrendered the war between generations of long and short hair. He had a friend that gave his oldest son an ultimatum, “Cut that damn long hair or get the hell out”.
When my dad’s friend told him the story it had been years since he’d seen his son and he grieved the loss of his son. Our dad didn’t think winning the battle of the hair was worth the same risk. He just told us, matter of factly, that if he ever saw it dirty or unkempt, he’d shave it all off. Not one of my two brothers or myself doubted his word or ability to back it up.
My dad looked a little confused when I unwrapped my brown handheld blow dryer from Sears. His forehead creased and eyebrows almost met in the middle. He then opened his eyes wide but kept his opinion to himself.
Another thing he kept to was the tradition of his generation – namely, not ever using a hand held blow dryer, not a day in his life, even when he still had enough hair to be able to use one.
Our dad was numb to the changes of society in his children’s generation. He’d watched the change from black conservative combs to flamboyant colored ones with Texas-sized handles that rode prominent in the bright colored pants that were too tight to suit real men in his generation’s estimation.
He’d seen the black and white high top canvas Converse tennis shoes become obsolete as the new colors and shapes of various logos began to rule the day.
As a boy, my dad pulled a cotton sack across other folk’s fields along with most of his eight other siblings. They weren’t working for extra spending money to use for themselves and a good time on the weekends. They were draggin’ that sack for survival.
Barb
Sunday, February 26, 2017 @ 6:18 pm
This is great, Floyd! Love the way you showed the differences between the generations with both the hair and the reason for work and also the shoes. Plus I love the last line!
Betty Draper
Sunday, February 26, 2017 @ 6:49 pm
Wisdom reigned in your Dad…
Caleb Suko
Monday, February 27, 2017 @ 12:44 am
Would have liked to have met your dad, sounds like a solid guy!
Pam
Monday, February 27, 2017 @ 4:18 am
Floyd, you are the master at description–painting a vivid picture with words. I remember those changes in hair and combs and shoes. And I agree with Betty, your dad had great wisdom–and so do you!
Dolly
Monday, February 27, 2017 @ 1:38 pm
Floyd,
What great descriptions! And I love how your dad chose to love you and your brothers over something silly like hair length. So wise. Hair comes and goes but a relationship and the memories you create last. Such a precious memory your dad left you. Thanks so much for sharing this 🙂
Hazel Moon
Monday, February 27, 2017 @ 4:32 pm
I am reminded of a story a missionary once told. They moved their family to Hawaii to minister and their son was in high school. He came home complaining that all the boys were wearing ugly saddle back shoes and they were all dorks. It wasn’t long before he was requesting his parents to buy him some of those saddle back shoes. We all do enjoy “Fitting in” and it seems the case as styles change. Great story and thank you for sharing with us at Tell me a True Story.
saleslady371
Monday, February 27, 2017 @ 6:15 pm
What did they call that transition when boys and girls dressed the same? Unisex? I remember the generation gap, the rebellion and the struggle to accept change. I like the line about you opening your hair dryer from Sears at Christmas and how you described your dad’s confusion. But he kept his opinions to himself. Very wise indeed. We all can learn from him here. Well written post, brother.
Cheryl
Tuesday, February 28, 2017 @ 12:59 am
Your Dad had a lot of wisdom to choose his battles and let the hair issue remain your decision. That is so sad about his friend breaking ties with his son over such a trivial thing. Our children are so precious…it is sad that things divide parents and their kids. Then the years of regret that follow eat away one’s happiness. Life is just way too short for things like this to happen. Thank you for another trip down memory lane, Floyd. God bless you, brother. 🙂
Bill (cycleguy)
Saturday, March 4, 2017 @ 3:17 pm
I never had long hair in high school. Wasn’t allowed. Home rule. It has small forays into it in college but summer is not really a long enough time to grow long hair. As for the shoes, never wore them. That is, so. like so late 70s-80s. So KISS-like. Nope. At 6’4″ I was already tall enough and broken ankles were not on my agenda. thanks for the trip down memory lane Floyd.
Dan Black
Thursday, March 9, 2017 @ 8:46 pm
it sounds like you had a great father! Thank you for sharing this with us.