Hair.

What is it about hair?

After those comforting words that I would lose my hair, I would get up every morning and pull to see if today was B day (bald day).

It made me think of when you have a sunburn and then peel and how you just can’t stop peeling your skin off as it sheds.

The day finally came and as I was at work (Meadville Medical Center) when it started. As I traveled throughout the hospital, a little strand here and a clump there fell to the floor as the day progressed.

I wanted to apologize to the housekeeping personnel and assure them I wasn’t changing into a werewolf or something worse.

By the end of the day, I was relieved I could get out the door before anyone could comment on my new style.

I arrived home to meet my daughter, a senior in high school at the time.

I had a hat in the car that I put on and, when entering the door, my tears started to flow and I asked where Dad and her brother were.

They were gone for the afternoon and I was relieved as I just wasn’t prepared for them to see the bald eagle yet.

A few sprouts remained and I looked much like a chia pet at that point. My daughter, Corks, asked if she could help me, as we were going to clean up those remaining clumps by using the clippers.

Into the bathroom we headed, and with my head in the sink I saw the remaining pieces of my golden locks fall into the basin. I was looking at black roots at least 2 inches in length. I hollered at my daughter to explain whose hair that was?

At that point we both started laughing since I never had dark hair and we both realized the chemo had done its job. I had black roots, and my hair was all gone now, in the sink.

We laughed so hard that we both cried at the outcome, but this time it was a welcome and a relief-filled cry. The worse was over.

Final outcome: I learned that it doesn’t take long to get ready for work when you don’t have to mess with your hair, I learned that I had a good-looking bald head, and Sinead O’Conner had nothing on me. I also learned that your head can get cold and that scarves and T-shirts make great head covers — but that wigs do not (TOO ITCHY) — and I learned that nightcaps are of great value and quite funny when you are in a summer nightie.