Alopecia World
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Meeting another bald woman in public
I recently had a wonderful experience. I was standing in a long line at customs at London's Heathrow Airport after a long flight from the US. We ended up in the midst of a plane load of people from Israel - I recognized the lilting Hebrew words. Ahead of me I saw a bald woman, about my age. As the line twisted back and forth around the rope barrier, she and I came face to face - I said hello. She didn't speak much English, and I know only a little Hebrew. I motioned toward her face and head and used one of my few words: 'beautiful'.
Then the line moved, and it was several minutes until we passed by each other again. I asked her if she has alopecia - I thought she did because she had tattooed eyebrows and even color on her scalp. She didn't look like a chemo patient. She said 'alopecia' with an accent, yes - alopecia. I gave her my alopecia card with information and links to my YouTube videos. Then the line moved again.
She waited for about 10 minutes for me and my husband to get through customs, and she had a young relative with her who spoke English. We talked about our alopecia and I told her about AlopeciaWorld.com. Then we hugged and said goodbye and agreed to exchange emails.
I've met with other bald women with AA at pre-arranged events in public, but this was the first time it was someone I didn't know or hadn't planned on meeting. I can't describe how I felt as I watched her move through the line in front of me that day - another bald woman in a huge crowd of people. There were two of us, and I wasn't alone. It was incredibly moving. I wish it would happen more often.
Mary
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Comment by Rob on May 11, 2011 at 6:21am
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That's awesome, about a week ago I saw the first person I've ever seen with AU, then about a day later I saw another woman with it. It was exciting to see other people with AU. I too wish it would happen more often, but it's rare when you're one in a million lol.
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Comment by Cheryl, Co-founder on May 11, 2011 at 7:51pm
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Awesome. I have had a few moments like that as well and I always walk away smiling. They say that 2% of population has a form of alopecia areata, not to mention the many other types of hairloss that are out there. That means in a group of 100 there are atleast 2 of us. With more woman showing their alopecia I am sure these encounters will become more common. I smile for you Mary!
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Comment by Kris Fenchel on May 12, 2011 at 8:57am
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That is an amazing story. I was in DC about 2 months ago and I saw a bald woman walking through the exhibits. I wanted so badly to go up and talk to her, but she was with her family and I was with mine so...I didn't:( I kick myself for letting my inhibitions get in the way, because your right there is nothing better than realizing you are not alone.
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Comment by Pat on May 12, 2011 at 10:36am
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Great experience Mary, I can imagine how it must have felt for you and her as well in all that crowd of people. Fantastic!
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Comment by Susan P aka DGADBS on May 12, 2011 at 12:44pm
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That's great Mary. Maybe she will join AW and we'll all get to meet her :) Hopefully she will send in a picture on Bald Out Day!
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Comment by Mary on May 12, 2011 at 1:36pm
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Yes, I hope she does!
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Comment by Petra on May 12, 2011 at 8:51pm
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That's great Mary. I wonder sometimes how many other people we pass in our daily lives that have alopecia but we never know it because most/some of us wear wigs. BTW when is Bald Out Day again?
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Comment by Pamela Rosse on May 18, 2011 at 3:03am
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Oh Mary, that is so cool. I truly hope she joins AW & the two of you can connect again.
Are you still going to NAAF Conferece? I'm checking in on Wed afternoon, I know it's going to be a short one for you, your drumming is going to be so fabulous.
Take care of you.
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As I've posted elsewhere, I'm not going to NAAF. I realized that I just couldn't do it between this trip to England and my week at Balkan music camp. I'm sorry to disappoint you and others, and sorry to miss meeting everyone. But, it came down to a matter of health.
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Hi Petra, just now saw your response. "Bald Out" day was renamed by vote of the group last year - it's now "International Alopecia Day". This year it's Saturday, August 6. Please go to the International Alopecia Day Group here on AW and join if you haven't. We all need to start organizing our events - large or small - for the Day!
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