(before)Before today my last real haircut was in June of 2008. Today I had 12 inches of my hair chopped off to be donated to Locks of Love. From their website:
Locks of Love is a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children in the United States and Canada under age 18 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis.
I first learned about Locks of Love when I was in college about ten years ago. A couple of my friends donated their hair at a special event that provided free haircuts to those who volunteered on the spot. My hair wasn't long enough to donate at the time, but the concept stuck with me.
I've actually tried to grow out my hair at least one or two times before, but each time I became frustrated with the unruly nature of very long hair and got a haircut. This was my first successful attempt at growing out enough hair that I could donate (but still have something left for me).
The irony in this hair-growing adventure is that I went through a period of several weeks during which my hair was falling out at an alarming rate. I was losing my hair at the same time I was trying to grow it out to donate it to people who had lost their hair. Huh?! Fortunately, the rate of my hair loss has slowed somewhat, and my hope is that it continues to slow to a normal rate.
In all honesty, I probably should not have gone out today because I'm fighting off a crash. I suppose I went out anyway because donating my hair was something I wanted to do sooner than later and because I have not left the house on a weekend since Sunday, July 19 (I know this because I've been keeping track of my activities on my blog).
Perhaps, going out today was my way of rebelling against my disease. Take that, CFIDS! Of course, I will be resting the remainder of today.
The good news is that my hair will soon be on its way to a new head!
(after)
Today's Activities: home & haircut. Today's Most Annoying Symptoms: exhaustion, headache, mild nausea, pain in right lymphnode in neck, mild sore throat, asthma attack; active eczema on left and right underarms, and right ankle.
Mood (10 is best): 7
Energy (10 is best): 2
Physical Discomfort (10 is worst): 6
