First Chemo and Shaving Party! It Was GREAT!

Yesterday I had my first chemo and followed it with the greatest Shaving Party! The chemo went very smoothly, nothing hurt. I think it was more difficult for my sons than for me--they went with me but were pretty uncomfortable at first. Then as they realized that other patients had visitors keeping them company, they relaxed and wanted to play cards, but none of us had brought cards. So Erik & Rex went off to buy cards. When they returned we used a little footstool as a card table and just had fun. Erik gave the cards to the nurses to keep when we left.

Then we came back home. My DH left to put helium in balloons, my sons made guacamole, and we packed up chips & salsa, the guacamole, brownies I'd made yesterday, and plates, pretty napkins with pink cherry blossoms on them, and cups and headed for my friend and hair stylist, Walker. When we arrived, two of my friends were already there!

They helped us clear off a table and we set out the party. The woman from the bakery next door (who is also a Survivor Sister) brought a giant cookie with pink frosting. Another friend brought a selection of cake slices from another local bakery. About 30 people showed up, my DH said.

Walker started--but he didn't just shave off my hair--he styled it into several different, increasingly shorter styles as he went! I never knew my hair could look so CUTE really short! (Though my 7-year-old grandson said I looked like a boy at one point!)

He took photos, my DIL took photos, another friend videoed the whole thing. Everyone talked, and I got LOTS of wonderful hugs. Some people brought gifts, but the best gift of all was their presence--the support and encouragement and cheer they brought me was so wonderful and amazing.

It was the best party! I feel really good about my hair being gone "early," as I don't have to deal with the distress of it _falling_ out, and I'm really amazed at the sense of freedom I feel. I told Walker (and others) that I know I'll be much more adventuresome in the future, certainly with haircuts & styles, but probably also with other things. I feel like a butterfly just free of the chrysalis!

I have to thank my friend Toby Hamilton, a Sister Survivor who told me about her Shaving Party with her family, and my friend Nancy, who owns Cookies & Cards and who brought the giant pink cookie, for first inspiring me to do it this way, and I thank so many of you who reinforced that suggestion--it was GREAT!

Sandy

Edit--I almost forgot--after the party was over, some of us went out to eat at a local favorite Mexican restaurant. I got the tortilla soup with chicken & avocado, which I LOVE--and it was too spicy! But it wasn't spicy--my DH tasted it and shook his head, Walker tasted it and said, "This isn't spicy at all!" So I know that the taste changes are already occurring. After eating, we came back to our house and played cards until after 10 p.m. (Some people had to work today, so we quit early!) I had one of the leftover brownies and was glad that at least that tasted good! But who knows what today will bring?

New Adventures! S