Being Bald

Despite what everyone says, being bald does not make me brave or beautiful. It just means I have cancer and the way to counteract that cancer is to take medicine that has bad side effects. It's not like I have a choice.

Here are a few things about being bald that you might not know.

1. Clothes fit differently. Okay, so clothes maybe don't fit differently, but they feel like they do because the lack of hair throws off your proportions visually. Of course, chemo tends to make me gain weight so those extra 5 pounds don't help, not to mention the puffy face that accompanies the steroids.

2. Getting ready in the morning should take a lot less time, but now you have to choose not just your outfit but a hat or scarf to match. Hats are easier and more comfortable, but they're hot as well as casual (at least the ones that I like). I currently only have 3-4 scarves and they're a pain to tie and the knot at the back of my neck drives me crazy, but they're dressier so a necessity with some outfits. By dressy, I simply mean not a t-shirt). :)  I also spend more time on my makeup because it feels important without hair to bring the feminity factor.

I have been late more in the last 3 months than ever in my life because I completely underestimate how long it takes to choose clothes and hat.

3. Kids cannot stop staring. If they're lucky, bald women do not cross their paths often, and I do not take offense at this ever. If you have kids, what an excellent opportunity to share about the challenges that accompany life and tell them they can help by praying for me. Inform them about cancer and medicine and side effects, but remind them that I am exactly the same Miss Melissa they've always known.

Even though Addison sees me often, she still spends quite a bit of time trying to figure it all out. The first couple of times we were together, she refused to kiss me but she's over that now. And she asks me every time if I feel better yet and lets me know that she prays for me to feel better every day. She always seems a bit confused as to why I'm not better yet. You and me both, sister.

4. It's not just the hair on your head that falls off. All of your body hair disappears. My eyebrows and eyelashes are slowly but surely disappearing. Did you know eyelashes are actually useful and not just on your face for vanity's sake? They help keep dust and particles out of your eyes, which means without them, my eyes are much more sensitive.

Another fun fact is you no longer have the tiny little nose hairs that help catch drippage so my nose constantly drips.

You know what doesn't fall off? The fuzz on your face.

5. Men (although I've noticed these are mostly acquaintances, not men I truly know) address me as beautiful and gorgeous. As in, "hey, beautiful" and "hi, gorgeous." While the intent is kind, this would have been considered inappropriate prior to being bald and so it always just feels so awkward. Women tend to comment on my looks often as well, but it feels different coming from women. Feels more supportive and loving, and I know that I would give the same encouragement to another woman.

How about we just do this whether bald or not? That sounds like a plan to me.

6. Your hair doesn't fall out evenly. Mine is fuzzy and randomly grows (just a little) in small patches. It is 100% not awesome.

Being bald is such a visible sign of illness and I hate the extra attention it brings. I wish that I could be just easy breezy about it, but I'm not really easy breezy about anything so definitely not about this. I haven't gone out in public bald yet, mostly to be as inconspicuous as possible, but I'm imagining that summer might bring out the bald because hats and scarves are so hot and we do live in hot and humid Tennessee. Maybe I should move to Alaska.

If I were truly brave, I would post a picture without the extra eyeliner, penciled in eyebrows, lipgloss, and filter, but I have more vanity than bravery.