#7 Go Natural

#7 Go Natural

So going natural has been more of an emotional experience then I had planned for.  My plan was to just go through transition with sew-ins and braids, hopefully being close to completely natural by the end of the year. I contemplated doing the big chop (with much encouragement from some people that I know) but my beautician kept talking me out of it. I can't lie, I was happy that she kept doing it. It kept me from facing a couple of my own fears.

As what normally happens in my life... things did NOT go as planned. I will spare you the details of what happened, merely to save myself embarrassment. But the end product is me doing The Big Chop.

When I made the final decision to do it, I let my beautician know that I was confident in my decision and that I wasn't going to change it.  Driving to the shop I was ready to turn around and cancel the entire ride. Part of me was terrified and the other part of me kept telling me to stop being a punk.

Tesha, my beautician, went about washing a coloring my hair. It was time for the cut. I could feel her and the scissors the entire time. She finally turned me towards the mirror and I thought that I was going to... pass out, cry, vomit, run. I was so depressed with what I saw. I knew that I was attached to my hair but I never knew how much until that very moment. All I kept thinking was "I look like my dad." And where my dad is not a bad looking man... I'm a girl and I just didn't see any femininity in my reflection at all. I felt bad for Tesha because she felt bad for me with my reaction.

Now I know that most of you will just say, "Erika, it's just hair." And you are right but would you chop your hair off??? I don't think that most of you would.

My husband has been amazing! He's continually trying to make sure that I know how beautiful I look without my long hair. My family, friends, and co-workers have been awesome too. My students...not so much. Most of my students have asked me to "get my long straight hair back". But some of my sweet kids told me that my hair was pretty.

It's been 12 days and I can't lie... I still am having an adjustment to seeing my reflection. But it is getting a little easier every day. My hair has even grown a little bit in the last couple of days.

A funny story to end this post: Alyse (my sister) is natural too. And our abuela told my mom that she (my mom) had one Panamanian daughter (me) and one African daughter (Alyse). Then... Ms. Gloria saw me... and she told her (my mom) that now she had 2 African daughters. All I could do is laugh. Gotta love my abuela!

Me with my silk wrap. The beginning.

In transition... with the sew-in. The plan was to rock this and braids for the rest of the year.

Washed and blow-dried.

Letting the color sit... it's supposed to be a reddish-brown.

The length that was cut off my hair.

The day after the BC. I'm still in shock and nervous about the reaction of my co-workers and students.

What my hair looks like up close and natural.

Camara (my bff) and me. Both natural girls. It's going to be a long rode to get to that length.

#13 - Horseback Riding

#13 Horseback Riding
My sister was coming for a visit Easter weekend and wanted to do something with me off of my list. She wanted to do skydiving (#6) but we just didn't have the funds for that at the time. So the next thing we looked at was horseback riding. I had already found a place to go when I first put it on my list. So I made the reservations for us to go early Friday morning.

We went to Cypress Trails to go riding. http://www.horseridingfun.com/ Our riding session was scheduled for 10am. We were early and were waiting for 3 other people who were supposed to ride with us. But after ten minutes of waiting, the people decided to get us on our horses and let us ride.
Alyse's horse was named Java. He is known to be a stubborn horse... hmmm. just like his rider. LOL. I kid.. maybe not. Anywhoo... Through the whole ride (one full hour), Java had spurts where he decided that he was just going to start running. Alyse, needless to say, was NOT a happy camper. My horses name was Teke. He was also a stubborn horse but instead of having running spurts, he would decided that he just didn't want to move anymore. And he ate EVERY chance he got. It got to the point where our guide had to hook us to him and his horse just to get Teke to start moving again.

Our guide's name was Alex. He is originally from Mexico. He's been riding horses since he was 11 years on his dad's farm. He dropped out of school in the 4th grade so that he could help his dad on the farm. He didn't say it but I got the feeling that he wished that he could have finished his schooling. He has been working on this ranch for almost 3 years. He was a pretty good guide.


All in all, it was a good experience. I haven't been on a horse since I was little. And even then I was on a pony.

Alyse and I with our helmets on getting ready for meet our horses.

 Alyse getting on Java.

Alyse not so sure about the horse she's sitting on. LOL

This is the best picture of the few that Alex took because Teke (my horse) was not feeling a photo shoot that morning.

Me with Teke.

Book Reading

So I have on my list that I will join a book club (#16). Well, three months in and I'm part of a book partnership. LOL. It's just my sister and me. I don't think that it really counts but the point was to start reading more books and having someone (or a set of people) to discuss the books with. Well we've read four books to date and here they are (plus a bonus)...

 Book #1  
Sisters by Rosamund Lupton I was totally shocked at the end to say the least. But it was a great read.  

Book #2
Little Bee by Chris Cleave I really can't remember how I felt about this book. But I think it took me a little while to get into it.

Book #3
 A Soft Place to Land by Susan Rebecca White Totally LOVED this book although I wasn't all that happy with how it end.  

Book #4  
Spin by Catherine McKenzie Spin was hard for me to get into during the first couple of chapters but as I continued to read, I couldn't put it down. My sister told me to stop reading because I was like ten chapters ahead of her... but I couldn't. I wish there was a sequel to this book so that I could see what happens to the characters.





Bonus Book
This last book I read before I started reading with my sister.

Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda. I absolutely LOVED reading this book. I've even recommended it to other people who also loved it as well. Definitely a MUST READ.