Okay, so for those of you who read my blog posts regularly or who talk to me pretty frequently, you know that my boyfriend has had some adjustment issues with my AA. While he has been really good about asking questions and trying to make me feel as comfortable as possible, every once in a while we hit a bump in the road -- and rather than run from the issue, we face it head-on and move on. I think it shows what kind of person he really is, to accept the challenges that come with having an alopecian girlfriend/soon-to-be wife, and still thriving in spite of it!

I decided to put this posting up today because two things happened this week that I like to call his "alopecia wake-up call." It has made him look at me and at alopecia with new eyes, and if it hadn't happened then I couldn't have planned it any better.

The first thing that happened was that I got my copy of Julia's book Metamorphosis . I was honored to have been asked to be a part of that book, and I'm very proud to say that my story has been published for the whole world to see, along with some other wonderful women and girls. The book has been sitting on our coffee table, waiting for someone to come along and read it. Well, on Sunday Todd took me out to breakfast to cap our Valentine's Day weekend (which by the way was very romantic and all we could have asked for!), and by the time he got home his coffee had kicked in. So when he went to be alone for a few very private moments, he took the book along with him. I didn't see him again for about an hour, because even after he had finished his business, he continued to sit and read the book. When he was done reading the book, we had the first of two conversations this week.

Todd took the time to read my story, which did nothing less than blow him away. He told me that he had no idea that I had gone through so much growing up with alopecia, and that what had touched him the most was my recalling the first day that I had gone to school with a wig on. He was able to identify with that because he was picked on and teased himself for wearing glasses, but even he admits that was nothing compared to the teasing and bullying I endured. That book, with my story published, has made him confront what makes him uncomfortable and put it in its proper perspective. He admitted to me that every day is a new challenge -- that he gets mad at all the stares we get, and he has to make the decision every day to not ask me to cover my head (even though some days are harder than others), because me being bald is me being me. Finally he just admitted that maybe, just maybe the stares aren't because I'm bald, but because we are a beautiful couple together -- and he admitted that I complement him (even though I would say it's the other way around, LOL) with my gregarious, extroverted, aggressive, in-your-face personality, and that my book smarts more than make up for his street smarts. His admitting that was the best Valentine's Day gift I could have ever received, more so than the Godiva chocolates or the roses!

The second thing that happened occurred on Todd's job. He is a juvenile detention officer, and in his job he comes across children from all walks of life in some very difficult situations. Well, imagine his surprise when he came across a youth that had come into custody with alopecia! Apparently, some of the other detainees had been teasing this child, and because he sees alopecia on yours truly every day, he was able to recognize AA for what it was and put a stop to the teasing! He took the opportunity to educate those detainees on AA, and gave that child some much-needed information as well (apparently, in talking to the young alopecian, Todd discovered that he had grown up with it his entire life but his parents and caretakers didn't know what it was or how to treat it.) Todd was so excited to be able to come home to me and tell me about what he had shared, and of course get more information; that way if anyone had any more questions then he could answer them!

I am now beginning to come across more and more people here in my hometown with alopecia, and even more people with loved ones who have alopecia -- and I have a personal credo when it comes to alopecia awareness: "Each one, teach one." I think I have been doing that pretty well over the years, but I am SO proud of my baby for stepping up and admitting that he still has issues, as well as using the experience with the detainee to confront those issues. Is it any wonder I love this man so much???

Now this is a wake-up call to celebrate!!!