I decided to cancel my hair appointment. I have had practically a standing appointment every 8 weeks for years now. Donna Rose at The Chop Shop is a gifted stylist and she loved cutting my hair. She said it was so thick that with the right cut I didn’t have to fuss or muss with it. It fell into place by sheer gravity. Since I’m not the fuss or muss kind of gal, I appreciated her talents. And since I’m not the fuss or muss kind of gal, I also appreciate my husband Mike’s hair cutting skills. Or, should I say shaving skills?
Chemo isn’t always kind to one’s hair follicles. It’s enough to make you want to pull your hair out. Literally! And that’s what I was doing until I just couldn’t do it anymore. That’s when I called on my husband for yet one more task.
“Would you shave my head?” I asked.
“Are you sure?”
“Oh yeah, I’m sure. It’s time.”
So with a little lather,
a swish, swish, here,
a swish, swish, there,
here a swish,
there a swish,
everywhere a swish, swish,
his handiwork was done.
What do you think? I think bald is beautiful! So does my husband. So does my sister.
Besides, have you ever felt a cat’s nose sniffing your head? Sweet!
Have you ever shampooed a bald head? Soapy!
Have you ever run your hand over your own bald head? Warm and friendly!
And I can’t wait until I wear my new Easter Bonnet on Sunday. I think I’ll paint my head like an Easter Egg.
Life is Sweet: La Dolce Vita!
Beautiful bald boldness.
Lovely litterateur!
You have a beautifully shaped head! That’s awesome not many women can pull that off! You wear it well……
Thanks, Debra. But I bet not too many women have tried! Which essential oil would you recommend I smear on my head?
You are so beautiful. Now don’t go having eyes tattooed on the back of your head…okay, I have an “other-sighted” friend who has eyes there for real!Okay, He also drives a race car on the track with a co-pilot telling him when he needs to go into a turn! You are so lucky to have your co-pilot shave your head and keeping it sweet.
The Easter Egg does sound kind of fun tho! Keep smiling, love.
Hmmmm. I did think of a tattoo, but I hadn’t thought of eyes! Great eye-dea! ha ha I do adore having my co-pilot, who is really the pilot in the family, in the front seat with me!
Bald is indeed beautiful on you.
Thanks, Linda. I’m counting the days down with you until your retirement! Keep writin’!
What a beautifully shaped head you have. Your spirit is our strength.
Thanks, Judy. Never know what new adventure we will find, do we?
Beautiful,sweet life.It’s all you. wait till it gets fuzzy. ( I love fuzzy, too)
I know. Fuzzy reminds you of those precious horse muzzles you love to pet! Kind of like my head!
BALD IS BEAUTIFUL FOR SURE!!!! I think you are more gorgeous now than ever, and that’s saying A LOT!!!!! You are so freakin’ inspirational, I can hardly contain my love for you! Francie
Francie, I’ve never seen you contain yourself yet, don’t start now!
Gayle, I didn’t know about your cancer return until I read health updates, or whatever they’re called….You are so enlightened, I can see it in your face, and read it in your words. Way to live!!!! You inspire me beyond belief, or words…..thank you for being in my life, and for giving us all your gifts so generously and lovingly…..you are in my thoughts and prayers, Francie
From the inspirational woman that you are, your words mean so much. Thank you, Francie.
Dearest Gayle, My sister-in-law, Jeanne Tomascheski, is in your hiking group and she shared your blog with me when I found my breast cancer had returned. I’m asking for blessings for her daily, I so look forward to your postings.
Three weeks after my first chemo treatment,I went with my daughter to Oakland to see a Warrior’s game. While standing on a B.A.R.T. platform, with the wind gusting, I touched my hair to try and smooth it. A huge handful flew off my hand and blew into a woman’s face. She responded with scream. I was so mortified, but unable to do anything, so I didn’t touch my hair again, but clumps of it continued to swirl around the platform.
Anyway, when we returned home, I had my friend’s son, who was a barber in Iraq shave my head. My husband told me that night that, had it not ever been for chemo, he would never have seen the beautiful shape of my head. I was so touched by that utterance. There is hope for us all; and you are on my prayer list. thank you for all you do for me. Liz Adams.
Hi Liz, I remember when my hair first started coming out. Shocking, actually! I ended up going outside and putting it in the tree so the birds could use it for a nest if they want to! It’ll probably take me ages to get it all out of the house. But thank you for writing. You are now on my prayer list, too. Gayle
Well I certainly can see it let’s your beautiful face shine through. I always thought your nice thick hair stole the show!…now only your face shines through! I can see the effortlessness of being bald! bald is beautiful!
Being bald definitely has its advantages. I get up in the morning looking as good as I did when I went to bed the night before! (However good that turns out to be!)
You are amazing!!♥♥
🙂
You are beautiful!
Thank you, Sharon. And thank you for the photo you sent of my handsome husband. And the card about Lourdes. Makes me curious as to what it means.
I agree, bald Is beautiful; but it’s your smile that does it for me, Gayle-
You’re too sweet!
You are beautiful my good buddy. I Love you and am so very proud of you. Thank you for sharing with us
You went through this, too, so you know what it feels like! I love you, too.
Gayle, With all my follicles in place, I could never come close to your beauty. You humble me…Your friend, Pam
Ah, Psshaaw Pam, you are so beautiful! You and your follicles!
You look beautiful, and the lovely shape of your head does remind me of an egg. Is that where the expression egg-head came from? Well, your timing is perfect. You are the best at making lemonade and finding the silver lining. Hope you will be singing in your Easter bonnet. Sending lots of love, light and healing energy your way.
I do love the idea of singing on Easter. Okay, I can feel the strains coming, the Easter Bonnet song. On the count of three everybody…1, 2, 3….
You are beautiful!!!! Thanks for sharing. Love you.
Thanks, Judy!Happy to spread the joy. Ha Ha
You, Gayle, are beautiful inside and out.
So are you, my beautiful friend!
You’re beautiful inside and out, with and without hair, Gayle. Can’t wait to see your Easter egg head! Love ya! Canda
Okay. I’ll have to take photos of the egg-head. May be a little fuzzy by then! Thanks, Canda
Beautiful picture, Gayle. You are gorgeous no matter what!! (..stop saying, “Yeah, right.”)
Your Easter Bonnet is going to be beautiful…and such fun! Hope you are feeling as good today as you did yesterday. What fun we had!
Love to you! I am bringing Turkey Chili over to you late afternoon tomorrow (Friday). If you are sleeping, I will just drop it in the frig!
Found the face paints….we’re on. XOXOXO
Yay! Face paints and turkey chili. Life doesn’t get much better!
You have the perfect head for baldness, you are beautiful! I think
you should do the Easter egg paint for sure haha! Love you little
Sister!
I do plan on the paint job. Will see how it turns out. Thanks for your love. Love you, too!
We think you look gorgeous! And we love the paint your head like an Easter egg idea. I’m thinking of putting other swim caps and having them decorate each others heads!
Lots of love to you – oxoxxoxoxox
Thanks for the kind words. I’d like to see photos of Ryan and Piper in their Easter egg heads!Love to you, too.
Beautiful outside and inside, you are a blessing. Luv u
Thanks, Peggie. Happy Easter!
Oh Gayle, you look so cool! Bald befits you – but it’s your smile that is the most inspiring. Yes, life is sweet and you are amazing.
Thank you, Rita. I will be curious to see if and how my hair grows back. They have stopped the drug that causes the baldness. Maybe I’ll like bald so well, I’ll start shaving my head!
I love that beautiful bald head! Just think of all of the time you’ll be saving now. I’m going to grumble grumble while trying to do something with this mop today!
There’s nothing wrong with a good grumble! Hair today, gone tomorrow! 🙂
Gayle-
You are such a spiritual warrior, you look ready to go to battle with doubt and fear and death and take them all by surprise with your smile.
Thank you for leading us with such grace down the path we’ll all eventually travel.
xxoo
mm
And you are such a spiritual poet! Keep up the good work, Michole!
Bald is beautiful on you, sweet Gayle! So are your eyes and contagious smile. We look forward to seeing you and Mike on Sunday afternoon.
Love and hugs,
Deb
Your song moved me to tears, Deb. You two are the best!
You look good bald!!! Actually great! In fact, radiant!
One year ago, I was cleaning fallen hair from the drain after showering, and I was glad to get that task “out of my hair,” when I shaved it all off. I did get a wig, and I wore it TWICE. I became a scarf addict.
Hi Jan, I remember how you took the scarf off one night at Kripalu. You, Liz and I had a great case of the chuckles and we wanted to see people’s reaction to your baldness! It was a most precious night–so was your bald head!
Oh, yeah, Baby!! You are gorgeous!!
I agree with you. The bald head is something everyone should experience at least once in a lifetime after being a baby, that is. I loved my showers when I was bald. So simple. Wash, rinse, dry, done!! My kids called me “baldy mommy”. I am so glad you are having fun with it. You are so inspiring to so many people, judging by all of the comments. I humbly offer you a free experience of the Reiki and sound work I am doing these days. I could come up to your house or if you wish, you could come to me. It would be my greatest honor to provide that for you. I hope you will receive and accept my offer.
Loving you Gayle.
Phoebe
Sound work from you, Phoebe, sounds Heavenly! I’m up for it, and glad your girls can no longer call you “baldy mommy.”
You are so delightful, and still beautiful. Thanks for sharing with all of us.
Hi Colleen, Thanks! I saw your painting hanging in the North Valley Art League’s gallery yesterday. Way to go!
Gayleeeee my stars!!! Hot! You look freaking gorgeous! Look at you glow… Go… Glow… Thanks for posting this and I can’t wait to hear about Easter egg head. Any thoughts of hiding alongside some peeps perchance? Love you love you! Happy birthday to Mike!!!!!! Xoxo and have a fabulous Easter! I know you will!!
(thinking of you guys… did you do it? did you paint your sweet head? Did you hide yourself in the midst of wild grasses and make Mike hunt for you? Hoping tonight was a blast… Happy Easter to you both and again HAPPY BIRTHDAY MIKE!!!! xoxo)
Freaking YES I painted my head! But I didn’t hide–only because I didn’t think of it! Next year!
Freaking gorgeous sounds good enough for me! Thanks, Liz! I did do the Easter egg head. It’s coming on a future blog. See you SOON! Smooch, smooch
You are, always have been, and always will be the most inspirational and beautiful person I know. Your positive attitude helps me get through many days. Did you paint your head like an easter egg? I’m sure I am not the only one that would love to see pix. You are dearly loved, my friend.
Oooohhhh, how Sweet is your message! Thank you for your generosity! Yes, I did paint the head. Pix to follow on upcoming blog! You are loved, too, my dear friend.
OK, Gayle, I read every one of these bazillion love notes to you. you sure know how to spread the love! But nobody mentioned your beautiful ears! Neither the Easter Bunny nor Barach Obama has such beautiful ears! You’d also beat Barach in a Smile Contest! As always, thanks for giving us more laughs and keeping us posted on your adventures. XX()()
Funny you should mention the ears. I first began to suspect several years ago that they stick out farther than the average ear–remember The Flying Nun? So I figured shaving my head would give my ears their day in the sun! Alas, everyone else but you notices the head! I love you, Terry!