Thus Endeth the Lesson

Whenever someone uses the phrase, "This will change your life," the cynic in me has always been quick to disagree, regardless of circumstance. So when friends and family deemed the St. Baldrick's head-shaving a potential life changer, I scoffed. It was just HAIR, for goodness' sake. How could that possibly alter life as we know it?

Well, today — exactly one month post-shave — I'm here to admit I was wrong. This was the adventure of a lifetime on so many levels, it's tough to enumerate them all.

First, it was a complete game changer in understanding how much appearance matters. Not only to me personally , but to the wider world. Let's amend that a bit — how much WOMEN'S appearances matter. I've been judged, pitied, gawked at, anything but my usual quasi-invisible self the last month.

Last weekend, we attended the wedding of two close friends. My worry was that the shaved head would somehow detract from the bride and groom, but they were on board months ago and came running up at their earliest opportunity for hugs and head-rubbings. (Why people are so fascinated with the feel is beyond me LOL) So if the bride herself didn't care, why did all conversation among the female guests abruptly cease every time I stepped into the ladies' room? Two words for you, judgmental Philly beatches.

Second, it restored some much-needed faith in human nature. As I've repeatedly told Ray, the people who stepped up were just so awesomely random — emailing, donating, coordinating, offering up door prizes, creating Team Fahoury t-shirts, knitting custom hats, bringing us fun presents (like that fab purple wig from my sister!), the list goes on and on.

Clients, friends, family, new acquaintances, business colleagues. I look at the day's photos and marvel at the wonderful people we're blessed to have in our lives. The outpouring of support was truly unexpected and completely mind-blowing. Especially Ray joining me so generously and unexpectedly because, as he admitted to a reporter that day, "I just couldn't let Lisa shave her head alone." Looking back, I can't imagine having done this without him and so many others by my side.

Finally, the lessons learned were numerous and indeed life-altering. Going out in public with a shaved head, I quickly gained a sense of how judgmental people can be — myself included.

In the past, it rarely occurred to me to give rude strangers the benefit of the doubt. Now, I find myself considering what unseen burdens they might be carrying, and not taking it so personally when someone is less than their best self. That's a viewpoint I hope will stick for many years to come. Unless they're on their cellphone in the checkout line. That remains worthy of a beat-down and always will be. Listen, good will only stretches so far.

I also will be eternally grateful for the good health enjoyed by the O'Donnell, Flanigan and Fahoury children in our family — and hold in highest esteem parents who are forced to face unimaginable demons and still somehow keep it together for the sake of their families. We had the privilege of meeting several wonderful families at the St. Baldrick's event, and you are in our prayers.

Thank you to everyone who has followed along with us in our travels during the last few months. Your support has meant the world to Raymond & me. Meaning to donate but haven't gotten around to it? There's still time.

The closer my hair gets to what passes for "normal," I realize our St. Baldrick's adventure has technically come to a close. But the lessons learned have been worthy of a lifetime.

And who knows? Maybe worth a reminder shave next September :)

PS One practical tip: If you ever DO have your head shaved, skip the lip gloss during the big moment. Speaking from experience, it was not pretty LOL

Three Weeks & Counting

I have to admit, I haven't given much serious thought to gender roles in recent years. But it irks me that hair — or lack thereof — matters so darn much.

After our head shaving adventure last month, Ray went back to work on Monday and didn't miss a beat. Colleagues who donated were of course excited to see his new look and hear all about the event, but strangers on the street didn't even look twice.

Me, on the other hand? For the three weeks I've been hiding behind a big blue button that reads, "Ask Me Why I'm Bald!" I've had to deal with the double-takes at the supermarket, in the car, never mind the business events.

It's been a real trade-off — loving the streamlined morning prep, but knowing it comes at a price the minute I walk out the door. Is she sick? Obnoxious? Gay? Attention-seeking? Making a radical statement? Suffering from head lice? On a reality show?

The psychology of this whole experience has been unexpectedly — and simultaneously — fascinating, exhausting, and aggravating. And yes, worth every minute of it.

The New Normal

Life's finally settling back in after the St. Baldrick's event last weekend. Spent the last week struggling with the occasional chilly head and some even chillier reactions.

I'm continually amazed how strangers assume I'm making some kind of statement. About what, I'm not sure. But I do know that the whole head-shaving experience has changed me in ways I didn't anticipate — and in some that I did.

One is the very visible reminder of the aging process — gray hair. Tough to do a touch-up when your hair's less than a 1/4" long. Also had a hilarious conversation with my 19-year-old niece in Macy's. I commented that every time I put on a head scarf, I felt like Rhoda. She asked, "Rhoda who?" I said, "You know, from the Mary Tyler Moore show?" Her response: "Mary who?"

Tomorrow, a major business test — sitting on an integrated marketing panel in front of 60+ inBiz Connection attendees. Want to come see my bald head and pick up some priceless marketing wisdom at the same time? Details here. And yes, I'll be looking just a bit different than the headshot!

Bald and Bold

I'm well into my first week of baldness and it's given me more pause than I originally anticipated. Several times, I've found myself wishing I'd done certain things last week — like pick up my dry cleaning or make a deposit at the bank — simply to avoid having to explain my lack of hair.

If people don't ask, do I offer? This is more of a dilemma than I suspected. I've reconciled it by ignoring gawking strangers and flashing my "Ask Me Why I'm Bald" button as a badge of honor to acquaintances like the bank teller or dry cleaner.

Yesterday, I was apparently quite the sight on the Garden State Parkway -- tooling back from a client meeting in Monmouth with the top down and enjoying the late summer sunshine. (Note to self: Toss some sunscreen in the glove box, will ya?)

Funny how quickly I've forgotten I'm bald — until I glance at my reflection or see the reaction on strangers' faces. Guess that's sort of the point, huh?

PS Great team "before" pic above. Don't those t-shirts look AWESOME? Thanks again to Stephanie and Sally for coordinating.

The Power of Insulation

The experience of being bald, as you can imagine, has been enlightening on a few levels.

Until now, I never appreciated the insulating properties of my hair. Not just physically, but also emotionally.

When we got home on Saturday night, I went into the bathroom to wash my face. When I flipped on the lights, I suddenly realized I could feel the heat from the vanity bulbs on my scalp. What a weird and unexpected sensation.

Sunday, another awakening as I paused in the shower for a good minute, debating whether stubble really needed even the most modest amount of shampoo and/or conditioner. And that first blast of water from the shower? Ouch.

Of course, the insulating power of hair — or its absence — manifested itself most importantly as we ventured out on Sunday morning to run errands. People had seen me without hair on Saturday night, so what was the big deal, right? But on Saturday, everyone at the Shillelagh Club knew EXACTLY why I was bald — no explanation necessary. It was a protected, friendly and supportive environment, even among strangers.

On Sunday, no such luck. I felt completely exposed — all eyes were on me every time I stepped out of the car. Whether real or perceived, I felt judged, pitied, and gawked at, all simultaneously. What a tremendous eye opener, and a tough sensation for someone who's spent her life trying to blend in, not stand out.

On the positive side, beautiful has replaced brave as the adjective of choice. I was even told I looked "badass" at the West Orange town picnic yesterday — awesome!

On the even more positive side, Ray & I are well on our way to exceeding the SIX THOUSAND DOLLAR mark in donations — all thanks to you. Our St. Baldrick's donation page will remain up for a while, so if you have yet to contribute to this eminently worthy cause, please consider doing so today.

A Picture's Worth a Thousand Words

Wow, what a day! Wonderful friends and family, a stylish new haircut, and OVER SIX THOUSAND DOLLARS raised to support childhood cancer research.

I can't begin to describe what an amazing experience this has been on so many levels. Not tonight anyway. Maybe when I've had sufficient time to process the magnitude of what's transpired. It might take a while :)

The Day of Reckoning Has Arrived

Be careful what you wish for. As many times as I said, "I wish Sept 18 would just get here already," now that today's the day I'm facing it with mixed feelings.

From a practical standpoint, my hair's a mess. I haven't had a proper haircut in months — me, who's usually on the five-week-schedule like clockwork. I actually had Raymond trim the back a few weeks ago to get rid of what was looking & feeling suspiciously mullet-like.

But emotionally, I don't know if I'm ready. Not to lose the hair, but to lose the experience. St. Baldrick's has become such a big topic of conversation over the last few months — why are you doing this? how much do they cut? will you wear a wig? are ya nuts? — and I've become very practiced in my answers.

Now that conversation is going to change to a whole new set of questions. How does it feel? How do you feel when you look in the mirror? Was it worth it? And I'll be forced to come up with a whole new set of answers.

I discovered a long time ago that preparation is key when you're someone who does not enjoy being the center of attention. It's the shield that lets you deflect the attention back where it belongs.

In this case, it's St. Baldrick's. They're the saints, not me — raising $90 million in the last 10 years that will hopefully serve as the catalyst to eradicating children's cancer.

Today's it's one small loss for a woman, and one hopefully giant leap for quality of life for kids and families everywhere — maybe even yours.

Hope to see you this afternoon here in West Orange!

Now, It's Personal

We recently got the sad news that a good friend's 20-something daughter had been diagnosed with breast cancer — after losing her mom to the same illness when she was in middle school. Earlier this week, she underwent a double mastectomy.

Now, her two younger sisters are faced with the unthinkable — getting tested for the BRCA genes and possibly having to make a choice that no one should ever have to make.

As far as I'm concerned, anyone in their 20s IS a kid — and deserves the right to enjoy their youth without worrying about life-altering issues for just a little while.

So Jaime and family, for whatever it's worth, this haircut's for you.

Saturday's Shaping Up to be a Great Day

Since most of the festivities at the St. Baldrick's event take place outside, we've been watching the weather — especially these random hurricanes popping up in the Caribbean. But it looks like we'll have the perfect weather for some old fashioned head shaving, if there can be such a thing.

The day's shaping up to be spectacular in many other ways. I just picked up an unbelievable gift basket generously supplied by my NJAWBO colleague Judy Bennett at Grove Baskets & Gifts. And big hugs to longtime client Nancy Quinn at Village Belle for donating a lovely Village Belle accessories prize pack. These and many other raffle prizes will be awarded during Saturday's event — and hopefully raise additional funds for childhood cancer research.

It's unbelievable how much effort goes into pulling off an event like this. Most of it is the work of just one dedicated guy — volunteer coordinator Kevin Kinney. His energy is amazing.

Read a shocking statistic yesterday — that a child is diagnosed with cancer every three and a half minutes. Let's hope that the efforts of St. Baldrick's and so many other dedicated organizations will soon make that horrible number history.

The Power of a First Impression

I have to say, the more I noodle around the St. Baldrick's website, the more impressed I am. For a charity celebrating just its 10th birthday, it's remarkably organized when it comes to giving volunteers the tools they need to succeed — forms, letters, posters, even tips for cultivating the media.

From a business standpoint, it's great to see someone with their act together — a solid process that's clearly well thought out and just as well executed. Great model for any non-profit to follow.

These days, givers are much more discerning in how they allocate increasingly limited funds. I know I certainly am. That's why I'm so glad that St. Baldrick's has lived up to the hype — I can feel good about losing my hair not only on a personal level, but on a more practical business level as well.

Three days to the haircut of a lifetime! If you've yet to donate, please consider doing so now. I'll even save you a lock of hair come Saturday!

Bald Jokes Abound

Yes, juvenile humor abounds when you decide to shave your head, good cause or no good cause. I have to admit, the eight-year-old in me finds some of these worth a giggle:

Why do bald-headed people never use keys? Because they've lost their locks!

You're so bald I can see what you're thinking!

How does a barber make phone calls? He cuts them short.

What kind of hair do oceans have ? Wavy!

Lord, can't wait til the 18th. In the meantime, I 'm here all week. Try the veal.

And the Haircut Jokes Begin...

A man was getting a haircut prior to a trip to Rome. He mentioned the trip to the barber who responded,"Rome? Why would anyone want to go there? It's crowded & dirty and full of Italians. You're crazy to go to Rome. So, how are you getting there?"

"We're taking Continental," was the reply. "We got a great rate!"

"Continental?" exclaimed the barber. "That's a terrible airline. Their planes are old, their flight attendants are ugly, and they're always late. So, where are you staying in Rome?"

"We'll be at the downtown International Marriott."

"That dump! That's the worst hotel in the city. The rooms are small, the service is surly and they're overpriced. So, whatcha doing when you get there?"

"We're going to go to the Vatican and hopefully see the Pope."

"That's rich," laughed the barber. "You and a million other people trying to see him. He'll look the size of an ant. Boy, good luck on this lousy trip of yours. You're going to need it."

A month later, the man returned. The barber asked him about his trip to Rome.

"It was wonderful," explained the man, "not only were we on time in one of Continental's brand new planes, but it was overbooked and they bumped us up to first class. The food and wine were wonderful, and I had a beautiful 28 year old flight attendant who waited on me hand and foot.

And the hotel-it was great! They'd just finished a $25 million remodeling job and now it's the finest hotel in the city. They were overbooked too, so they apologized and gave us the presidential suite at no extra charge!"

"Well," muttered the barber, "I know you didn't get to see the pope."

"Actually, we were quite lucky. As we toured the Vatican, a Swiss Guard tapped me on the shoulder and explained that the pope likes to personally meet some of the visitors, and if I'd be so kind as to step into his private room and wait the pope would personally greet me. Sure enough, five minutes later the pope walked through the door and shook my hand! I knelt down as he spoke a few words to me."

"Really?" asked the Barber. "What'd he say?"

He said, "Where'd you get the lousy haircut?"

Suddenly, every day's a good hair day

Less than two weeks to the big shave and my hair hasn't looked consistently this good. Ever. At least to me ;)

Have even been tempting fate and driving around with wet hair and the top down -- generally a recipe for unmitigated disaster. But now? It's like Mother Nature gave me the perfect blow out. Go figure.

Why is suddenly every day a good hair day? I'm assuming it's God's not-so-subtle way of reminding me who's really in control here — and what a privilege it is to be able to choose baldness. Not only the if, but the where and when, too.

Suddenly, I know I will miss my hair both terribly and not at all.

Bieber Fever?

If I had to choose my Halloween costume today, it would no doubt be: Justin Bieber! Or any one of a million kids with that hair getting ready to head to middle school next week.

Yep, old Justin himself seems to object pretty strenuously to being compared to a 46-year-old woman.

It seems nuts to get a haircut NOW, when in a few short weeks I'll be shorn like a Marine recruit. But the current Bieber-esque 'do is driving me crazy. Maybe a small trim of the bangs? A hairband? Lots o' product? The 18th is so close yet so far away.

The Dividing Line: Hair vs No Hair

Last night, Raymond & I had dinner with friends, a couple with whom we had not yet discussed the St. Baldrick's adventure in any great detail. During our lively conversation, I realized just how clearly life has become divided into "pre" and "post" 9/18.

Sure, I was planning to lay low the first couple of weeks in terms of business commitments, but after that? Not so much. Apparently I'm delusional that within a very short timeframe my head will look like a sophisticated short 'do rather than a Britney-esque scalping.

Well, best-laid plans and all that, as I've been asked to serve as a panelist for an integrated marketing workshop hosted by Vicinity Media Group's InBiz Connection on 9/28. I reminded publisher David Black that this would be post-shaving, but as long as he felt it would not distract from his event, I'd be delighted to participate.

Now, all I can do is wait — and have some scarves at the ready if 9/28 doesn't dawn with some remarkably speedy hair growth.

Winning T-Shirt Design

We have a winner for the "Team Fahoury" t-shirt logo! Can't thank Stephanie and Sally enough for spearheading this effort -- will make the St. Baldrick's event that much more fun with their love and support.

Stephanie tells me there's a few more days to nail down the final t-shirt order, so if you feel compelled to add an oddball t-shirt to your wardrobe (hey, it's a collectible!), email me for details.

Wow, Now There are T-Shirts?!

Just when I think, "Who the heck is gonna show up to watch a bunch of random people get their heads shaved?" it comes to my attention that the answer is, "Waaaaaay more then you'd think!"

Apparently, Team Fahoury will be well represented — and nattily attired — on Sept 18, thanks to pals Stephanie Scotti and Sally Fica, who are spearheading the creation of custom t-shirts to commemorate the event. Will post the winning design as soon as it's finalized.

When this whole thing started, Ray & I never dreamed it would evolve into this amazing level of support. But thanks to such a random, eclectic, and warm-hearted group of friends and family, we've found new things to wonder at and be grateful for — each and every day.

Regardless of how naked my head feels on September 19, it's an experience I wouldn't have missed for the world.

What's this all about anyway? If you're new to the Follicle Chronicles, start here.

Am I a Closet Melonhead?

Over the weekend, Raymond & I measured the circumference of our heads. No, this is not what we normally might do for fun on a rainy Sunday — it was at the request of our wonderfully talented friend Lauren Canning, who has graciously volunteered to knit us each a lovely post-St. Baldrick's hat.

Now, I always knew I had a somewhat large cranium. Cute, off-the-shelf hats rarely fit. But after the official measuring I'm a little nervous — how can my head be almost a full inch bigger than Ray's?

[insert obligatory joke about knowing who's the brains of the operation here]

So I guess I've inadvertently discovered my own Halloween costume...Megamind! Megafan of Will Ferrell that I am, this is perfect. On second thought, I might just ask Lauren to knit me a few more hats. Nothing in blue, though — it's simply not my color :)

To Baldly Go...Where Apparently Many Have Gone

Who knew bald was a hot, happening style trend?

According to the StyleList blog, bald is big, baby! Never thought I'd see a buff-headed runway model — is this what we can expect at NYC's Fashion Week next month? How cool is that.

One stylist-to-the-stars warns that it's a look "definitely not for the faint of heart." Note to self: Bring smelling salts to the St. Baldrick's event. Good thing my reflection already doesn't show up in a mirror :)

What's this all about anyway? If you're new to the Follicle Chronicles, start here.

One Final Costume Idea

You knew that fanboy Ray had to have more than a single Simpsons costume idea up his sleeve.

Not sure where we'll find burgundy bell bottoms in his size, but give Ray a jar of edible paste and he's all set for Halloween as Ralph Wiggum. "Me fail English? That's unpossible!"

The bangs, of course, make the look on this one. Will need some serious industrial-strength product to keep his hair plastered down.

As you can tell, these days it's all about the hair -- Sept 18th can't come soon enough. Hope you can be there for the haircut of a lifetime.

Not that we're competitive or anything (hahaha) but your generous donations have propelled Ray & me into the 1-2 fundraising slots on our team. Your continuing support of our St. Baldrick's adventure means more than you'll ever know.

More Fun at Ray's Expense

OK, this one's my absolute favorite -- the Heat Miser from "The Year Without a Santa Claus."

Heat Miser and Snow Miser were actually going to be our costumes a few years back, until Ray took a closer look and realized they're not wearing any pants.

Not being a tights kind of guy, Ray decided to pass. But now that he sees the uncanny resemblance, maybe he'll reconsider for next year.

At least he's wearing a different shirt in this photo. That blinding yellow Homer "There's a NEW Mexico?" t-shirt has to go in the wash sometimes!

Separated at Birth: Krusty & Ray

My husband, of course, is a Simpsons-quoting freak of the highest order. Put Ray in a crowd full of strangers, and within minutes he's managed to find a kindred soul (or three) who's spouting his or her favorite line. "Is it a crime to bet on sporting events?" "Guess who, fat boy!" "Lemonade? Pleeeeze."

For a few years, Krusty the Clown was his Halloween costume of choice. A few more inches and some green dye this year, and he wouldn't even need a wig. This year St. Baldricks, next year...Locks of Love? Ray's all about a good cause.

Separated at Birth?

Thanks for all the terrific Halloween costume ideas! Looking at photos of Raymond, my husband and fellow St. Baldrick's "shavee," several costumes have come to mind just in case he ever decides to grow his hair this long again. Too bad the big shaving event takes place before Halloween.

First one for your consideration: Doc Brown from "Back to the Future." Great Scott, what was he thinking?!

Stay tuned...more fun to follow at Ray's expense :)

The Halloween Challenge

Years ago, my co-worker Kimberly had a go-to Halloween costume every year -- Glinda the Good Witch. It was perfect for her, since she had long, wavy blond hair.

Then one year, she panicked a week before Halloween -- she had recently cut her hair super-short and dyed it red, completely forgetting about Glinda. So she had to run out and buy a wig or the costume would have seemed, um, schizophrenic to say the least.

Which started me thinking -- since I have no traditional go-to costume for Halloween (my most favorite of holidays as you may know!), what works with a shaved head? Might as well capitalize on the opportunity and have some fun with this.

How much hair will I have 6 weeks after the big shave? No idea.

Help!

Moxie? Who, Me?

I have to say that one of the unexpected benefits of this St. Baldrick's adventure has been the flood of compliments sent my way.

Call me shallow, but it's lovely to hear nice things about yourself -- especially while you're still around to hear them, huh?! My favorite so far was being told I have "moxie." What a great word! It evokes the coolest of imagery, doesn't it -- a dame in a sharp suit and matching hat (picture Karen Allen at the end of "Raiders of the Lost Ark"), saving the world with her unique combination of brains and bravery.

I don't see what I'm doing as especially brave. Shaving my head seems such a minor sacrifice compared to what families must experience after a cancer diagnosis -- sheer terror, while putting on a brave face for the rest of the family and the world at large. Parents aren't allowed to lose it, are they? That's why it's the hardest job in the world -- and the best, from what I'm told.

But shaving a head is just that -- a shiny bald skin-covered dome -- without your generous support of St. Baldrick's. If you've already taken the plunge, thanks. If not, please consider supporting a dame with moxie to raise much-needed research funds.

Dangerous Assumptions

Suddenly, it seems women with super-short hair are everywhere. Yesterday, I found myself on the same shopping trajectory with a lovely African-American older woman at the grocery store.

As we ran into each other aisle after aisle, I had the chance to take a good long look at my future from numerous angles. On her, the shaved head was striking. I can only hope to be so lucky.

I struggled with the appropriateness of asking a stranger why she chose such a look. Was she a St. Baldrick's participant as well? Dealing with an illness? Or simply enjoying a summer of freedom from haircare?

My secret fear? That people won't ask. That the wrong assumptions could be damaging to business, or that acquaintances will form their own erroneous conclusions without having all the facts.

If I were ill, I think I'd want people to ask. Not strangers in the supermarket, because that's just being nosy, but certainly people who know me. I'd like to think that I'd need and welcome their sincere support, without hairlessness being the big bald elephant in the room.

But since I'm making this sacrifice by choice rather than necessity, of course I'm hoping that everyone who wants to know "Why?" will ask when they see me. Hopefully they'll have their checkbook in hand by the time I'm done answering :)

Pass the Popcorn

Since Ray will be playing in a golf tournament this weekend, I've decided the timing is perfect for a hair-themed movie weekend. It's remarkable (and kind of frightening!) how many movies revolve around hair when you start thinking about it.

Thus far, I've come up with the following:

• Good Hair (Chris Rock's documentary)
• Hair (of course!)
• Shampoo (the Warren Beatty classic)
• Hairspray (both versions)
• 10 (beaded cornrows, anyone?)
• Saturday Night Fever ("Would ya just watch the hair. Ya know, I work on my hair a long time and you hit it. He hits my hair.")
• Grease (hey, there's a whole musical number revolving around Frenchie's ineptitude with hair)

Yeah, the last two might be a stretch but John Travolta's worth it. Got any suggestions to add to the list? Send 'em along!

Hair's the Thing

Well, the word is out and it's too late to turn back. Thus far, the calls and emails have been overwhelmingly supportive, with just a few "Are you nuts?!" reactions, followed by, "I think you're crazy, but I just made a donation anyway."

The most common question, of course, has been "Why?" At first, my typical flip answer was, "Why not?"

But the real reason goes much deeper than that. Though our family has had its fair share of hardships — cancer included — by and large, we've been blessed. Not being a parent myself, I can't begin to fathom the terror of hearing the word "cancer" uttered in relation to my child. But if losing a few inches of hair brings us one step closer to no family EVER having to hear those awful words again? That's a no-brainer.

Crazy random thoughts at 3AM

During a long sleepless night, I was fascinated by the random hair-related concerns that popped into my head.

Will my hair grow back differently -- different texture, etc? No, dumbass, that's only if your hair loss is related to illness or treatment. Isn't it? Started obsessing over what kind of doctor could answer a stupid question like that. God forbid I go into any situation without all the relevant facts at my fingertips.

Will my scalp be paler than the rest of my skin, considering its been covered with hair for 45+ years? Spent the better part of the morning peering into the mirror to assess the color of my scalp relative to my forehead.

Was I ever hairless? Apparently I had longer hair in utero than I actually have now, if the beauty shot above is any indication.

White scalp+tan face=lots o' fake tanner in my future this fall. Lovely.

wow. Wow. WOW.

Sent out some emails this morning alerting people to my wild head-shaving adventure. Within 10 minutes, what a humbling experience. Wow. Words can't express my gratitude for the emails, the calls, the kind words, and most of all, the donations.

I am grateful anew for the wonderful people in my life -- clients, colleagues, family, friends -- who opened not only their wallets, but their hearts in support. Any misgivings I may have had were washed away in the flood of "You go, girl!" cheerleading I received today.

Come winter, my head may be cold but my heart will be warmed by your generosity. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

And so it begins

I've never been a girly girl. My purse never matches my outfit, I despise mascara, and the whole Carrie Bradshaw shoe fetish thing eludes me.

So how hard could it be to shave your head, especially when it's for such a good cause -- raising money for childhood cancer research?

An organization known as St. Baldricks works with a local group, the Friendly Sons of the Shillelagh Club, to host an annual event here in West Orange, NJ. Volunteers (known as "shavees") raise money and have their heads shaved to demonstrate solidarity with kids who lose their hair during treatment. Saw a brief press mention last year and was intrigued, so I mentioned it to Raymond, my husband. Unexpectedly, he decided to take the plunge with me for the 2010 event, growing his hair over the last few months "so it would be more dramatic." I suspect it was just a dodge so he could justify not getting a haircut the entire summer, but that's another story.

Ray & I have talked about it for months, but never actually committed until this week. Now we're officially registered as "shavees" and accepting donations. And the misgivings are flying fast and furious. What if my head is shaped like a dented melon? Will strangers assume radical fashion statement or brave cancer patient? Where's the line between bold and crazy?

In less than two months, I will discover just how much an impact a woman's hair has on her self esteem. Stay tuned...