Honey, It's Time...

Thursday, May 9th, 2013

8:30AM Human alarm clock goes off late.

8:31AM Take shower and wash hair.

8:32AM Clumps of hair are coming out. It happens so suddenly. One day you feel "it won't happen to me" and the next you realize it's time. As much as you prepare, you're not prepared enough.

9:30AM Have my weekly exam minutes before my 3rd treatment of Paclitaxal IV. I start whimpering like a baby. The day before I had my blood drawn and some bizarre shooting, burning pain went up  my forearm. The waterworks started. I was primed for lots of tears thereafter and I cannot get them to stop. The good news: my blood count is very good--no signs of infection or anemia, both a risk from the chemo.

10:00AM While in the IV chair, I make appt to see Janet Waddell to have my hair chopped off. I cannot think of another day of hair coming out. Still, all day I obsessively run my fingers through my hair to see how much will fall out and collect it in a Baggie.

6:15PM Arrive at Janet's studio and the fun begins. I tell her just do what you want, just make it look cute. I might as well have fun with a cut, even for a week, instead of buzzing it all off.

Before.

The Bell Jar look.

Pile o' pony tails.

Pony tail harvest.

Jasper, the coolest dog downtown. 

The Ed Grimley.

Hair in addition to the pony tails!

After.

Dr. Dana Banana offers moral support.

Le Artiste, Janet Waddell, the sweetest, most talented Brit on this side of the Mississippi.

I feel like I lost five lbs. It's weird to have no hair weighing you down. It's liberating too. Why does it take cancer to try out a new, fun haircut? By the way, I very well know that this haircut will only be around for a few more days but I'm enjoying it while it lasts. My new wig will be cut and styled on Tuesday at 2:00PM. I'm considering getting a second one styled like you see it now.

7:30 PM I celebrate the new do by walking with Dr. Dana a few blocks to my cousin's restaurant, The Redhead, on 13th b/w 1st & 2nd. I have fried chicken once a year and this is the place to go. I'm offering you a money back guarantee to get you to try it. It's that fabulous.

Meanwhile, throughout the week I've been experiencing lower back pain--what seems to be sciatica. I paid a few visits to my chiropractor, David Williams. When I got to Janet's the pain started getting a lot worse, I think aggravated by one of my favorite pair of Miz Mooz shoes. By the time I got home from haircut and dinner, I was in excruciating pain; I could barely walk.

11:00PM I got muscle relaxers called in and delivered by Dr. Dana and then Sandy came with the good stuff. Vicoden.

Friday, May 10, 2013
This morning I was scheduled to go to Florida to say my last good-byes to my father's wife, Arlene, whose battle with pancreatic cancer (now in several organs) is about to come to an end. She's been in hospice for 20 days and the doctors keep saying, Any day now. I had my thoughts lined up in my head. I'd say them to her with no other visitors in the room. I'd cry. She'd listen even if barely awake. We'd have closure. I think Arlene would understand that because of the pain, I had to cancel my trip. We fortunately had a long conversation just a day before she entered hospice. I have to move on.

Saturday, May 11, 2013
Today I rested with the help of painkillers and more icing. Sandy's been a great help and just fed me sushi. I'm walking unassisted now and the pain is more localized vs running down my leg. Ahhh, relief.

My head's itchy as heck. Little hair splinters keep falling out. The clumps are still coming out too, only shorter. I know I'll get through this. Everyone does. My friend Katia reminds me, it's just a season. Those words keep reverberating throughout my mind.

It's just a season. This too shall pass......................

I have several of these bracelets in various colors and charms, this one being the newest design.
If you're interested in purchasing one go to Halley's website: http://www.lovefnue.com
You can also find her at Bloomingdale's.