HAIRDO MONOLOGUE
(The Hairdo Monologues show is Thursday Feb. 28 in Columbus, OH. Contact: patwynnbrown@yahoo.com) 

          My sister is beautiful. One of her striking characteristics is her gorgeous almond shaped eyes. The other is her long locks of dark brown hair with streaks of gold and auburn throughout. Together we have logged a lot of mirror time fussing with our plentiful hair. In the 80s and 90s our usage caused Aqua Net stock values to soar!

          We credit our wonderful hairdresser, Nicole Revish, for bringing us from Hairdo Darkness into Hairstyle Light.  The first time she cut, colored and smoothed out my hair, and being of Greek heritage blessed with enough hair to stuff a king sized mattress, I felt like a cast member on the TV show “Friends.” It was Jennifer Aniston quality!

          The years went on and we continued loving our hair and never thought twice about losing it.

          Then in December of 2009, both my sister and I opened our eyes to a new reality. Pauline was diagnosed with breast cancer while pregnant with her precious baby boy. Running from doctor to doctor, grasping and deciphering every word a radiologist or nurse said to us, and generally coming to terms with this horrible challenge, we did not think about hair.

          Treatment began…When Polly started to lose her hair I remember thinking: Thank God it is her and not me because at least she has such a pretty face.

          Polly would check her hair. By treatment 3, tufts began to fall out. She wanted to give her long hair to LOCKS OF LOVE. Nicole cut off her pony tail. After that, with more hair falling out, she had her head shaved.

          Polly’s wig was so natural that no one realized it was not her real hair. When we shopped, she would receive compliments about her hair. Polly accepted these compliments gratefully but I could tell, there was a tinge of sadness there too.

          So I decided I would have all my hair cut off to show solidarity with my beloved sister. Polly would not hear of it. Instead, I donated 13 inches to Locks of Love to help others have hair while going through treatment.

          Polly was always careful to hide her baldness from all of us.  But one time, unbeknownst to her, I caught a glimpse of her bald head.  My heart sank at that moment because it wasn’t right that my little sister, whom I adore with all my heart and soul, was going through this.

          One of my favorite memories during this awful time, though, was when Polly’s hair began to grow back and I saw her in her Pixie cut. It was right before the holidays and she and her baby boy were dancing around the family room. At that moment, watching that joy filled scene, I knew everything would turn out OK.

          Throughout the treatment process we felt like we were on a roller coaster of emotions. Our faith and our love for each other got us through. As a family, we held each other up.

          Polly’s long beautiful locks of hair that I love, now cascade over her shoulders, shoulders that have carried her burden over the finish line of treatment with miraculous success. Her ponytail is back.

All is right with the world again.