Griffin Speaks

IT’S ALRIGHT TO LOOK YOUR AGE

I made two very important decisions last week. First I agreed to allow Alexis to host what she called her first “Annual girl’s night out” at the Capital City Club. She invited several close friends. Attending the gala event were Montgomery pre-teen socialites: Taylor Washington, Erica Bowman and Jennifer Pugh. My wife Debra and Taylor’s mom Cassandra Washington served as chaperons. The group feasted on Prime Rib. 

My second big decision was to stop coloring my gray hair. I have decided that I earned it, I’m proud of it and I am going to let it show. I am joining a distinguished group of people. I have seen many great looking people sporting the gray look such as: Federal Judge Vanzetta Penn McPherson, Clarence Hampton, Rev. Al Dixon, Parole Board Chair, Sidney T. Williams,

My mom, Alger J. Griffin, my dad, Dr. Melvin J. Griffin Sr., my mother-in-law, Wilma Thomas, State Representative John Knight, Dr. Joe L. Reed, Lowndes County multi-millionaire, Kevin Lawrence, CNN Anchor, Anderson Cooper, and 60 Minutes reporter, Ed Bradley, former United States President William Jefferson Clinton, actors George Clooney and Richard Gere. 

What causes the hair to turn gray? Each string of hair that we sport on our head is made up of two parts: a root and a shaft. The shaft is the colored part that we see on top of our heads. The root is the bottom part that holds the hair tightly in place. The root of each strand of hair is surrounded by tissue under the skin and is called a hair follicle. Each follicle contains a precise number of pigment cells. These cells produce a chemical called melanin that gives color to each strand of hair. Melanin is the same chemical that produces skin color. When we grow older, these cells in our hair follicles die. The hair turns gray or white. 

People can get gray hair at any age. The main determining factor is genetics. This means that most of us can look at our parents and grandparents and figure out how soon we will gray. My mom started graying in her twenties. I just want to look my age. In a few months I will turn the ripe age of forty-eight. I feel great and hopefully will continue to look great even with my graying hair.

In the words of my dad, “If you don’t have money at least have class!”

Greg Griffin is a free lance writer. You can read his previous articles by visiting his web page at www.greggriffin.com