Let me tell you about the power of girlfriends. It's AMAZING! And these girls came to support me at my last minute impromtu pixie party aka buzz night party.
After a week of tossing and turning in bed constantly thinking about getting my hair completely buzzed off I just couldn't handle the situation. I started to google the chemo drugs and I did indeed read that the drugs I was taking would make me loose my hair. My brain was in a constant battle. How could that happen to me? I have a ton of hair. It's so thick, can it really fall out? Then as I read some forums women of all ages said how tramatic it was to loose their hair. Again, could this really happen to me but, breast cancer was not on my radar at all. So after talking to Ken about what the doctor said and how she urged me to buzz it I met with Ken's barber to discuss my situation with her. She was so kind and wanted to make it easier on me by coming to our house to buzz it off on Sunday afternoon.
So now with a solid date in my brain it really became a reality. I'm sure all of you know that time flys when you're having fun and thats exactly what happened to me. The work week flew by (and that never happens), Friday and Saturday flew by, (way to much fun with Cody and Wendy) and then the dreaded Sunday which also flew by because we went to a birthday party for one of Cody's classmates and I ran to the store and bought some yummies for my party.
So let me just go back a day to Saturday. Like I said above searching the web just make my journey so much more realistic. Some people advise against it but others say surf a bit. I surfed for things like chemo moms with young kids, chemo and breast cancer, etc. Then I ran across a sight titled "CHEMO CHICKS" and that's where the lightbulb in my head went off. I need my girls. I can't cut my hair with only Ken and Cody. Although I love them dearly what if I freak out and Cody freaks? Ken would tend to him and who would tend to me? Maybe that sounds selfish on my part but cancer is really tramatic to me and I needed support. So on Saturday morning I wrote up an e-mail to all my local girlfriends telling them that I would love it if they can join me at my pixie party aka buzz party for support. And let me tell you my support came and it was the best feeling a woman can have.
On Saturday, I took Cody to Ms. Laura's house so he could play with her daughter Brianna. They are pals from our old neighborhood in Kingstowne. I met up with my sister Wendy so we could go shopping for wigs and some speciality scarves. The wig shop was not far from my old house, if fact, I must have driven past it 100 times never even noticing it. It was a nice shop, and the lady who assisted me was awesome. I tried on several scarves and wigs and finally narrowed it down. At first I wasn't going to get a wig. I got a great long hair DIVA wig from the American Cancer Society last Thursday with my co-worker Stephanie. She was so supportive as I hesitated to go there. Still in denial last week about loosing my hair. The selection was not good. These wigs were free to cancer patients so they were a little dated. But Stephanie found the DIVA wig that was kind of in the back. We put it on my head it it looked like the old Jen sitting in front of the mirror. I felt so good inside that I knew this wig was the one for me.
Back to Saturday. With Wendy I was specifically focusing on the scarves which I ended up with 2. One a turquoise blue (so out of my comfort zone) and the other brownish/maroon (right up my alley) with a little sparkle bling on it. Then I showed the owner my DIVA wig and they said that I got a very nice and expensive wig. So that made me happy. I put it on and she combed it, styled it and said wigs can be cut to accentuate you face better. So I'm sure in a few weeks I'll have it trimmed up a bit to fit me a little more. As I was sitting there I realized that Codys little classmates and other teachers in his school unknown to my cancer would find it a bit odd going from my short haircut to my diva wig. So I decided that since it's still summer, I should probably get a shorter wig. And that's what I did. I have a short blonde wig now (ya, if it's fake you might as well go blonde) ha-ha! and I'll transition into the brunette wig for the fall/winter because you know in VA winter is right around the corner. So I felt really good leaving the wig shop. Of course once you get home and re-try the wigs back on you have to figure out exactly how that wig was placed on your head by the wig owner and restyle it since sometimes they don't transport to well. Of course I didn't look as good when I got home but don't all ladies feel that way after going to a salon too?
So let me get back to the reason why I wrote this update: Ahhhh yes, the power of girlfriends. It was completely amazing. The door bell rang and it rang and it rang. Cody had so much fun opening the door to all the ladies walking through and in Cody's style... greeting them with a very positive compliment. I had a chair set up for where Vicki was going to do the buzz and I had a small table nearby with my 2 wigs.
I got to chit chat for a bit. I was hoping not to miss out on speaking with everyone. I was also trying to get photos of me and my friends as well as some candid shots. The time went by so quick and the door bell rang one last time. It was VICKI! My heart started beating. I clung to my wall. The stress started to rise. Why am I doing this? Its better to cut it than to see 4-5 inch stands or clumps randomly falling out right? She set up her area and we chatted. I agreed to go with the #2 clipper. #1 was just to short for me. I sat down putting my head down as the tears rolled out of my eyes. Someone handed me some tissues, someone was hugging me. Ken was holding Cody as Cody started getting emotional. Everyone was telling him it was ok and mommy was getting a new beautiful haircut. Cody and I calmed down as Vicki started buzzing my head. Of course I've never buzzed my head so it felt weird. I could see tons of hair falling onto my lap and onto the floor. All the fake blonde went first and then all this black stuff? What the heck is that? Oh ya, that would be my natural hair color. The color I don't like at all and haven't really seen in years. Yikes, I really am a dark brunette. I would say it was over pretty quick. All my girls were so positive thru my cut. Saying how pretty my eyes were and how my facial features just popped. That did help the process. :) I looked in the mirror and it just wasn't me. But it is now. Everyone gave me hugs and the support was so real. But it didn't take me long to throw on my wigs and model them. :) I can't help it. I love hair and I had to walk the runway to laugh about the whole thing. I made cupcakes and Breanna helped me put the breast cancer symbol on them. Courtney brought champagne to celebrate and a great toast we made.
The best thing I ever did was to e-mail all my girlfriends for this last minute impromptu party. My girls didn't think twice and even though I moved...they still came and that meant the world to me. So.... Barb, Rebecca, Terri, Breanna, Jessica, Jill, Tricia, Jenn S, Deann, Courtney, Stacy, Katja, Jen J, Nichole, Vicki, and Wendy. LOVE you GIRLS!!! and Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
XOXO Jen
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