The top 5 joys of being a redhead

My sister and me, circa 19whenwewereyounger

June 27, 2014
Day 58

Growing up as a redhead wasn't easy.  I didn't like feeling different, for starters.  For every teacher or parent who gushed over my "beautiful red hair", there was a kid nearby to call me carrot top instead.  I wanted desperately to just fit in with my classmates, to look like they did, to not stand out in any way, shape, or form!  But the older I got, the more I began to appreciate my ginger super-powers.  They're unique to my fellow redheads, but as you'll see from this list, there's a lot to love about us!

It's hard to nail everything in just five small points, so I've done my best to narrow them down to more esoteric categories, under which more could always be said:

The top 5 joys of being a redhead:

1) We are rare. 
Unless you're living in Ireland, or a really, really Irish town, you probably didn't have more than two or three redheads in any class of 100 or so growing up.  We're not as rare as twins, or, you know, Mets World Series appearances, but you'll only see us show up every once in a while down at the local baptismal font.

2) We are intriguing.
Because we're so rare, we're also intriguing.  People don't see redheads often, so they look at us a little longer when they first meet us.  We watch their eyes move up to our hair with intrigue, and sometimes attraction.  We don't see it in everyone, but there are some people who seem to positively gravitate toward us (and we're okay with that!).

3) We are collectible.
And because we're rare and intriguing, we are, for some, a creature worthy of collection.  Lots of men especially (straight and gay alike) seem to have a thing for redheads.  And though some just want to know if our carpets match our curtains, most appreciate all facets of our redheadedness, from our freckles to our smiles, and even to our Irish backgrounds too (when applicable).

4) Our passion is unmatched.
Though parts of us do match, we are, by and large, a very unmatched people.  There's just something about us that, well, fires people up.  Ginger girls especially are known for their fiery personalities or tempers, and it drives a lot of people crazy, for good and bad.  But whether we're angry or joyful, sad or pensive, we have a particular passion about us that's unmatched, and always burning.

5) We see the world differently.
Finally, we are the product of our species, and as such, it creates for us a different world view.  Being born a ginger means being born into a world of experiences as I've described above.  We are born into rarity, born into intrigue, born into a world filled with collectors, and in all of this, we know we are unmatched.  Because of all this, we can't help but see the world differently, just as the world clearly sees us differently.

Of course, we are not, despite the louder cries of our egos, better than anyone else because of the mere color of our hair, but we are no less proud of it anyway.  We are redheads.  We are rare, intriguing, unmatched, collectible creatures who see the world differently.   

We burn easier, not just on the outside, but from within as well, and you know what?  We're damn proud of it, too!  I don't know if the red curtains will ever close on our species, but I know the fires we've lit in this world will continue to burn brightly until the end of time!