Coloring your hair for fun vs. necessity.

Does anyone else remember the moment they realized that coloring their hair was no longer an adventure in style, to be done or not done, extreme or subtle, at your whim and totally dependant on whether you felt like shelling out the dough?  In my 20's I had highlights every color under the sun, and was constantly going to fun new stylists who would try the latest and greatest in color.  I was always looking for something to make my average brown hair look "amazing" (incidently, the candy red chunky striped highlights DID NOT do the trick).   Anyway, I was thinking this morning as I looked at my calendar for tomorrow and saw my coveted appointment with Fen, my color miracle-worker and hair guy extraordinaire....that now I have arrived at the time when I officially HAVE TO color my hair.  Well, I take that back, I guess I could let the grey that sits right on top and right front and center at the hairline stay,  but no....I'm not so much liking that look quite yet.  Funny how in just a few years something could seem to be totally in your control, and go to out of your control in what feels like a moment.   I wonder why they haven't figured out how to prevent us from getting grey hair?  Must be a Clairol conspiracy to keep the cure under wraps :-).  Signed, ME {lv}