letting my hair down

i've never dreamed of owning a convertible. it was always the car that "other" people drove, the impractical car. growing up, my barbie dolls had convertibles and that was perfectly acceptable - it was just for play. in my mind, i would NEVER be one of those people always driving with the top down, but when given the choice between loaning a convertible mini vs. a standard mini while charlie was being serviced, i opted for the former. and surprisingly without hesitation.

i figured i would let my hair down for a couple of days. i would drive the streets of west la with a new lens and an open roof. i would let the wind toss my hair in a frenzy, breathe in the salty air, soak in the sunny rays, blast my music without reservation, and just let go. and when i would walk into a public place, i really wouldn't give a damn that it looked like a tornado just blew by. hell, i would feel free! 

the past 48 hours with the loaner convertible somehow reawakened me. it didn't matter that it was cold after my swim this morning...i just had to drive with the top down. on the freeway, i refrained from tying my hair in a ponytail just so i could feel it loose and out of control. in the convertible, i had a flashback to my first ride on g's motorcycle - the wind, the exhilaration, the freedom. it was on that motorcycle that i first felt like one helluva woman. and in this convertible, that carefree spirit was back.

i returned the convertible once charlie was ready for pick-up. it was a bittersweet goodbye, as i felt the need to put my hair back up, turn the air conditioner on, and drive back on the freeway that always gives me heartache. as i sit here now, it's occurring to me that i might actually be one of those people after all. i might actually be that woman who says "screw it! life is too short to care what my hair looks like. let's go."