Red Haired Kid

Because of the distance, poor winter road conditions, too young to drive, and no school bus, I was unable to live at home and go to high school.  So at thirteen years old, I worked as a nanny for room and board. When I was a freshman, I was employed out on the east side of town by a couple who had two children.  Since both parents worked, I cleaned the house, helped the boy and girl with their homework, made supper for the family, and then spent the evenings doing homework.  

This was the year that I first decided to dye my hair.  I had blond hair–not the pretty light blond like the movie stars, but a “dishwater” blond.  I so wanted to be a red head.  Inspiration!  I got the  bottle of Mercurochrome from the medicine closet and liberally soaked my hair.  You can imagine my shock and despair when my hair turned pink.  I washed and washed it, then washed it with Clorox water, but it still was definitely pink.  When my employer came home from work, she took pity on me and got some real hair color, and covered the pink.  

Lady Gaga

I had learned my lesson, I waited until I was grown up and had money before I tried the dying experience again, but never with pink.  Thinking back on it, maybe way back then, I was ahead of my time.