Shades of Grey

Afghanistan, 2011

Afghanistan has claimed another victim.  Lower flags, remove headdress and brace up.  Another casualty of war.  My hair.  It has finally happened.  I have, over the last month, developed some greying at the temples.  I was hoping to make it to my 40th next year with my lustrous thick black hair, but alas it was not to be.  Instead I am doomed to celebrate with, what I am convinced will now be, a "dignified older gent look"  Bit George Clooney?  Maybe not.  I am hoping it will add some gravitas.  Maybe not.  In a bid to explain this I have done some research.  You know how I love that.

Apparently greying hair could be caused by stress.  Don't laugh!  It's hard work out here. I will certainly not be using that travel agent again to book my holidays.  They were right about the all-inclusive though.  Haven't spent much money out here.  Mind you, the sea views are a bit elusive and the locals aren't quite as friendly as the brochure made out.  I will probably mention it on Trip-adviser.  Anyway I digress. The greying could also be caused by a deficiency of Vitamin B12, usually found in fish and shellfish (see, it's not just me who can't find the beach), liver, eggs, milk, and milk products.  All of which are in short supply.  I don't think I have had egg more than once since I got back from R and R.  I will probably have to face up to it and admit though that it could, finally, and probably most likely, be caused by age. Apparently changes in hair color occur naturally as people age - no-one ever mentioned that to me.  Apparently my hair will turn gray and then white. They certainly didn't mention that.  This is called achromotrichia. More than 40 percent of people have some gray hair by the time they are 40.  Why does everything seem to happen at or about 40?  I can sense some emails on that subject as we draw ever closer to the big 4 0.

I think it's best if we can all agree (nod wisely) that it is probably a combinatuion of all three.  Premature greying caused by a combination of poor diet, stress and age.  Yes?  Well that's what I am going to put it down to.  I don't care what you say.  I bet you are all wondering how I am going to cleverly weave my greying hair into some pithy, apposite yet incisive diatribe on the trials, tribulations and situation here in Afghanistan.  You are probably thinking, I could mention  there is always a blurred area, a grey area.  An area where we have to negotiate with the Taliban (never say never), a grey area where we have to turn a blind eye to corruption as a way of life in government, a grey area where we gloss over the fact that the Afghans have neither the will or capacity to govern their own country.  A grey area where no-one appears to be minded to do anything about the staging areas for terrorism that lie just across the border in Pakistan.  A grey area where, despite the Generals advice that we have neither the manpower or equipment to do the job properly now, we are already planning the draw down.  I could say all that, but I won't.  You have already thought it. 

I could say it's not as simple as black and white.  Like my hair, it's a combination of factors.  Its all shades of grey.