the domestic zoo

(or: God Has a Really Timely Sense of Humor…Doesn’t He?)

So, I decided not to wear a head scarf to church this week. It was too hot to consider wrapping my head in something and the dreads were just fine pulled back in a ponytail. They have a few beads now and are looking pretty rad.

It should also be noted that I wore a green shirt, denim skirt and my totally adorable green velcro flats. The ensemble was cute and comfortable, albeit decidedly non-traditional.

And of course this week, we would happen to have both a one-year memorial service AND a ‘churching’ service (where mom and new baby are welcomed back to church 40 days postpartum). The church was absolutely packed and mostly with people I didn’t know.

And of course, this would also be the week to recognize the graduates from Sunday School and elsewhere.

And of course, I would have to come and stand in front of the whole church, as both a graduate and a Sunday School teacher.

Oh well. Better to get all of my green-sneaker-wearing and dreadlock-sporting strangeness out there in one fell swoop, you know? And It could have been worse: I could have been wearing a Jesus is my Homeboy T-shirt*. That’d probably explode their brains.

* just kidding – I would never wear anything like that. EVER.

Yesterday I washed the dreads, soaked them in a sea salt solution, and once they were dry I started backcombing them *again* in order to tighten up the ends.

It’s been a lot of work, my hands are incredibly sore, but the dreads (and roots) are looking much better.

Mom tells me, “I’ve never seen you put this much work into your hair before.”

I’ve never wanted to do something with my hair so much before. It’s totally worth it.

Yesterday I washed the dreads, soaked them in a sea salt solution, and once they were dry I started backcombing them *again* in order to tighten up the ends.

It’s been a lot of work, my hands are incredibly sore, but the dreads (and roots) are looking much better.

Mom tells me, “I’ve never seen you put this much work into your hair before.”

I’ve never wanted to do something with my hair so much before. It’s totally worth it.

It took me most of yesterday to backcomb thirty or so dreadlocks. They’re still pretty fuzzy and my head is a bit…lumpy. But I love them.

I really love them.