Hair in a Handbag

Dinner at Villa Blanca

I had a moment about a week ago which turned into a moment for much reflection....  I was in a salon, I was carrying my handbag which was zipped open, my hair (a.k.a "Wiggie") was laying at the top of the bag, peeking out.  I thought nothing of it, until I saw two young, twenty-something girls staring at my handbag.  What I would have given to know what they were thinking when they saw hair sticking out of a handbag.

22 weeks ago, my life was turned upside down through many events, one of which was when I saw my first wig. It took me weeks to be comfortable with the idea of wearing a wig, it took even longer to not be ashamed of it. My hair is something myself and others have always admired, something that identified me as me. Everyday, I looked in the mirror and didn't recognize myself because it wasn't my hair that I have had and truly loved for 32 years. The same part, the same feel when you brush it, the same feel when you put your fingers through it. It took many looks in the mirror, but I have come to love Wiggie.  She has become a part of me for the time being.  When I want to go somewhere and don't want to look like a cancer patient, Wiggie is my best friend.  She masks what is really going on in life, to a person on the outside looking in. She makes me look like every other woman.  I guess that is why the wig is so special.

I can only imagine, you feel like I did which was that a wig is foreign, kind-of weird and something you probably would never thing of wearing.  When I saw my first wig on a woman, I couldn't stop starring and honestly, thinking about how fake it was to wear something to cover up what is real, which is not having hair. What I have found is there are many, many people that choose to wear wigs (now I know why because they are fabulous if you have the right one).  They are healing for some and fashionable for others.

Couldn't have imagined that I would ever be comfortable enough to carry my hair in my handbag wide open for all to see.  Wiggie has turned out to be one of my favorite things in life, she has taught me so very much.

I will be so very happy to have more hair than I do today, but for now, I am thankful for Wiggie.