It seemed like thanksgiving would never come, but it went by so quickly!               This was the first time I’d been home since coming to Richmond, and swell doesn’t even begin to describe it. My parents, my sister, my uncle, and my grandmother were all looking happy and healthy. It didn’t occur to me how much I missed them until my mom & dad met me at the airport.              It was great to sleep in my old bed, play with my dog, eat homecooked meals, see the house repainted, and have a good ol’ fashioned turkey dinner.              Anyway, even though I love my family, no one really cares for random family photos of strangers. So instead, I’ll put up a picture of my favorite dog in the world, doing what she does best.
Archive for the 'Miscellaneous' Category
Many of those around me have recently become aware of strangely countercultural, hairlike growths emanating from the sides of my face. I feel it necessary to inform you that these follicular developments, known colloquialy as ‘mutton chops’ are actually the trademark symptom of an advanced stage of the condition formally known as ’sideburns’. First discovered in the mid to late 1800’s, the hairy developments were initially called ‘burnsides’, named after General Ambrose Burnside, the first well documented case in which they were observed.
Some of you may be wondering- Why sideburns, and why now? There are many factors that led me down this road. My great personal respect for many in the facial hair community, the specter of oncoming winter, and the opportunity-cost of beardly maintenance all played significant roles in my decision to pursue a hair-positive approach to personal grooming. However, my greatest inspiration in this undertaking has been and always will be the people around me. The tolerant, relaxed, and decidedly open-minded atmosphere at Richmond has encouraged me to take unprecedented intellectual risks, of which cultivating massive sideburns is only one. The stereotyping and herd-mentality I had to put up with in highschool is much less present here. Having an environment conducive to questioning and judging ideas freely is what college is all about, and Richmond’s no exception. I no longer have to worry about being pegged as a misanthrope or anarchist on account of my hair, dress, or even my love of heavy metal hangover bands from the 80’s. In a world that is overripe with nations of sheep, Richmond is one of the places left that still lets you be one of yourself, not one of ‘them’. Therefore it is to Richmond and the students that populate it that I dedicate my two tufts of burgeoning seventy’s-style facial hair. Pictures shall be forthcoming.
