That's not what I meant.

I used to call myself granola.  I thought it summed up my beliefs in a somewhat self depreciating way, because as important as being green is to me, I don't presume to dictate what should be important to others.  (Except, I do think that being green should be more important to people... I just don't think it's my place to tell people how to live.)

Shortly after I met my friend Jen, she was over visiting.  Her bulldogs were still puppies then, and we used to let them rip with Tula in my back yard until they started flattening my gardens.  On one of those visits, Jen commented on my clothesline, which was newly installed.  I told her that I prefer to hang my laundry than to put it in the drier because I'm kind of granola.

Jen didn't say much then, but apparently she was somewhat disturbed by my declaration.  While I meant that I try to make environmentally friendly choices, Jen envisioned something else entirely.    She envisioned long skirts, Birkenstocks, going bra-less and a general lack of hair removal.   She mulled this over for a few weeks (remember - we didn't know each other very well then) but finally the thought of braided armpit hair became too much.

We were back in the yard again a few weeks later, watching the dogs rip around, when she suddenly burst out:  "Do you really not shave your legs?"  That probably should have been a red flag, but I didn't clue in.

I should point out here that shortly before that, I'd had a conversation with another friend about the benefits of using wax for hair removal. The fact  is,  I am a danger to myself with razors.  I used to cut myself all the time, and it got to the point where standing one-legged on a wet floor while holding a sharp blade to my skin didn't make sense.  I started waxing, and have had a standing monthly appointment with an aesthetician for years.  Super thin hair, no stubble - 'nuff said.

So, when Jen asked me out of the blue if I don't shave my legs, I answered honestly.  I told her that I don't shave my legs, and haven't for about ten years.  I was thinking of the conversation that I'd had earlier, and never considered the fact that she was being general (hair removal) while I was being very specific (shaving vs waxing).

That, my friends, is how rumours get started.

That's also why I now refer to myself as eco-conscious, and not granola.