Eleven hours of hair

Deborah and I got our hair braided yesterday. We expected for this to take about 4 hours; however, they started on my hair at about 11:30 and this continued until 10:30 at night. I contemplated running out and chopping my hair off in response to the oppressive boredom which battered my mind. But patience prevailed and now I have the remarkable collection of what is probably the equivalent of three other people's fake heads of hair braided into mine. i think that the woman who braided my hair was previously being disciplined in the corner for hurting people by pulling too hard since until she worked on me it appeared that she was only working on wigs and I must say she treated my hair with little empathy. Eleven hours at a salon is really a prime example of the sort of thing that happens in Africa. Nothing is to be rushed for and this is often take to ridiculous and absurd levels. I have to say while it was unbearable while it was going on, I guess I can't say that I regret it because where else would you pay 10$ to get a pound of fake hair intertwined with your own? It is worthwhile to note that the hairdressers complained that there is no way it would take this long to braid african hair and I suspect that by around 8 pm they were regretting this tedious task at least as much as we were. We were all quite mystified by the horror and agony of the process by the time that it was done. Oh yes, and we were also STARVING since we hadn't eaten since breakfast. There is also one more component of this story which I will try not to elaborate on too deeply, but this hair braiding travail occurred at the exact same time as my period decided to spontaneously splurt forth with remarkable force. This unexpected combination of events left me with deep concern for the ladies' pillow I was sitting upon and left me in dyer agony as blood was beginning to trickle down my leg. Thank god my jeans were absorbent because nothing could make me move as that might possibly prolong this astoundingly lengthy tedious hairpulling hell. Anyway, that is how I spent my Saturday....