I owe my Alopecia World Sister's & Brother's an apology, for I have been absent for over 2 1/2 months.
I pulled a typical Cancer (my sign) & withdrew into my shell.
During Sept to current I was dealing with a Mom who sadly has dementia, but fortunately I have my sister, Kathy, we lean on each other. On September 23rd I lost one of my oldest & dearest friends to complications to diabetics. Patty as I described her to Heather, was an extraordinary individual. She helped me so very much, with the term "it could be worse", you see she not only lost her life to this damn disease but her sight as well over 20 years ago. She led by example, yes she had some pity party days but then pulled on her big girl panties & went on. She went to school, learned brail & how to run a business, she even began speaking in front of Congress & Senate. She was one of my hero's & I miss her so very much.
Once again, my body, ah, I have a referral to see the surgeon on Thurs Dec 09, regarding my gall bladder, how something so small can cause such havoc, I will never know.

As my counselor said, don't crawl into your shell, there is a time & place for that, don't be afraid to reach a hand out to friends because someone will indeed take your hand & pull you from the proverbial waters into the boat.

I kind of feel like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz when she learned there was "no place like home" I learned it was & is ok to have a pity party, to feel down for awhile,then you regroup yourself but in doing so don't shut yourself off, reach out for it is ok to be the one helped instead of helping, it is ok to cry when needed & gain strength from those who offer.

I am sorry for crawling into my shell & not following my own advise that I have given to my fellow alopecian sisters & brothers, to reach out, your not alone.

There may be times I am not on line for a bit due to flying out to help my sister with our Mom but I will not stay away so long as I did this time.
For as my late dear friend Patty would say, "hey it could be worse, have your pity party it's ok, then put on your big girl panties & pull up your boots, clothing is ok, (she had great humor) & off you go.

That is what I choose. I had my pity party, I have now put on my big girl panties & pulled on my boots & I am off, with a just one little request from Santa, can I please post-pone the gall bladder surgery, I am tired of surgeries :) ha ha, got to keep that humor.

God Bless all of you at Alopecia World
I wish you all a very Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah & a very Happy New Year.

Pam