You stopped cutting your hair...

That's the first thing she said to me the last time I visited her.  Actually, I thought she said "you stopped coloring your hair" so I explained how I was trying to tone down the highlights in my hair and was waiting longer than I normally do to get highlights.  But I realized later she said "cut" not "color".  She was having trouble with her speech; plus I wanted to hear "color" not "cut".  So she didn't like how my hair looked.  She had always complimented me on my cut when it was short; said she thought my hairdresser did a really good job.  But I wanted to grow my hair longer, and was battling with my hairdresser, who kept cutting it too short, with bangs that were too thick.  So I was experimenting with a new hair stylist.  Why should it matter what she thinks, anyway.  It affected my whole visit; I kept fussing with my hair, reminding myself that I feel softer, look more feminine, with it longer.  Why did she have to say it?  I'm a grown woman, who wants one last chance to have long hair before it starts falling out, or getting too thin.  Instead it's what I remember most about that visit.

I did get my hair cut before the memorial service, but not as short as she would have wanted.  Just to make sure it looked neat, with ends that weren't frayed or frizzy.  I'm keeping it longer.  At least for now.