1 September 2004 (Wednesday)
work, day one
First, in all fairness, I must tell you that we were given an amended retirement plan enrollment form that asked for "former name" instead of "maiden name" (which was on the old form). Bravo, Commonwealth.
For my first rotation (Sepetmeber through December), I've been assigned to Cambridge. The court is commutable by public transit, which is wonderful. I estimate that the total commute will be around 45 minutes, which is also not too shabby. The commute also puts me transfering from a bus to the T at Government Center on my way home over day, which means I get to buy yummy stuff at the farmer's market on Scollay Square every Monday and Wednesday until the end of the season!
Now for the pondering... I didn't cover my hair at work. I also didn't cover my hair on the way to work or at lunch, although I did put on my hat (stashed in my pocketbook) upon leaving the building at the end of the day. It didn't really bother me on the morning commute, maybe because of the anonymity of the crowded T. Walking into the building didn't feel too weird either; I've interviewed enough times to get used to the feeling of entering a place bareheaded. (No, that doesn't really make much sense.) However, once I started meeting people, chatting, and listening to the first few presentations (who knew there was so much administrative stuff to cover?), I started to feel funny. In fact, I had a momentary burning sensation on the top of my head at least a few times throughout the morning--sort of a real-life equivalent of that dream where you give a speech in front of your six-grade class only to discover halfway through that you are naked.
It wasn't liberating to leave my hair uncovered. I was very self-conscious: I kept smoothing down my hair, twisting the ends, tucking bits behind my ears and then pushing them forward. Of course, all that could have been because, after I spent 15 minutes blow-drying it this morning, my hair curled right back up about three seconds after hitting the humid summer air. Anyway...it wasn't liberating in the least, but I think I would find wearing a sheitel (wig) to be even more oppressive. Yes, I realize the logical inconsistency here. If I think I should be covering my hair, how is it "better" for me to go uncovered rather than wearing a sheitel, even if I think a sheitel is the least preferred hair-covering option?
More to think about. Still, tomorrow (and for the foreseeable future), I go to work bareheaded.
I'd be interested in knowing why you chose not to cover your hair. I am applying for clerkships right now, and as a Quaker, I'm having what is, perhaps, a similar dilemma - Quakers don't use titles to address people (Your Highness, Professor X., etc.) out of a belief that all are equal before God. I suspect, though, that declining to address a judge as "your honor" may not go well when interviewing or, later, when appearing in court. So though the prospect makes me uncomfortable, I'm thinking about just doing it, at least while interviewing and when I first start working. I am sure there are some different considerations you have weighed (including religion-specific considerations I'm not aware of), but if it's not to personal, I hope you could share why you decided to go bareheaded, at least for your first day. I've been spending a leeetle too much time thinking about this lately, and I'd be interested to hear about other folks' decision-making processes in similar situations.
Maybe you should borrow a shaitel for a day just to wear to work once and see how you feel about it? Since you seem to have been surprised by your reaction, that may be the only way to find out how you would actually like it.
