One year ago… I went from looking like this…
Mary before hair cut, December 19, 2008
to this…
Mary after haircut
Goofy self portrait with it dry
Why…
The hair goes directly to make wigs for women with cancer and the minimum requirement is 8 inches. I know how hard it was for Ann (John’s mother) to lose her hair when she went through chemo. It was one small thing that I could do.
John really didn’t talk much about how I looked. But, he was clear that he liked long hair and he didn’t want me to have short hair. I had found out about the Pantene program a few months before I donated. I told John what I wanted to do and why I wanted to do it. I don’t like they way I look with short hair. John was fine with me doing it. He knew it meant a lot to me and he knew that I wanted to do it in his mother’s memory.
The irony was the day that we received John’s stage IV diagnosis, I got a letter from Pantene thanking me for my donation. I was so devastated with the news we received and I remember John handing me the envelope and saying, “maybe this will make you feel a little better.”
I wanted to try donating today and make it an annual tradition, but I’m not sure if I have quite 8 inches without going too short. The local hair place that does walk ins appeared to be closed.
But… once I know I have 8 inches… it’s coming off… for Ann…
And just because I happen to be on the website… here’s some more photos from a year ago…
John & Nathaniel playing, 12-19-08
"Look, Mom, No hands!"
Rainbows & Mourning Doves 