When a local, low-cost basement hairdresser on my street noticed the quarter-sized bald spot, I was about 10. I pulled my long hair back over the spot, so no one ever knew in 5th grade.

When alopecia reared up again my sophomore year in high school, I got a fall (half wig), and again pulled hair from the forehead back over the matching wig, and secured my hair onto the fall with a large barrette. Large bobby pins held my fall onto my real hair, twisted underneath. No one knew. I did the same with a longer wig of real Korean hair for my formal dances. My real friends were from camp, and they lived in MANY cities in my state. I had a great time going to camp, conferences, traveling with them. At school, I joined many clubs, went to concerts, did the art for drama club.

When more bald spots appeared at the hairline, I got a full-head keneculon (sp) wig. No one knew. I wore this wig and the others through 2 years of college, and wore scarves or granny-caps (in style then) to bed in my dorm. Maybe I told my roommate...I don't even remember. I did my hair in the privacy of the bathroom. No big deal. I wore wigs on my dates. At 18, a dear guy (old church camp friend) told me baldness doesn't change love...and believed for the first time since age 10 that marriage may be in my future.

In college, I stopped the shots and prednisone, and my hair actually grew back. I got a Jane Fonda shag haircut and partied down at a fraternity mixer, proud to be wearing my own hair. I was about 20. Much more wine and beer were in my life, but less stress (being away from my parents)! Is wine the secret tonic? Ha ha.

Hair grew in and I made up for lost time in my 20s, moved to California, traveled, created art, started a Master's Degree...then got married (age 31) and had children. Neither kid ever had alopecia.

Hung around dogs, horses, an impossible mother-in-law and maybe a change in water at a country property. Husband and job scene, finances all became stressful. Started birth control pills. Oooops! Alopecia returned, went to totalis, universalis, then totalis. Husband left with the long-haired younger secretary after 15 years of marriage. No big loss...but head hair never really returned. At 47, alopecia was the least of my worries: I had one kid starting junior high and one starting high school, while the ex defaulted on child support. I did, however, start dating an old beau (who used to date me with hair when I was age 28-30) 10 months after my ex left. Yes, I was bald this time around!

My grandson doesn't have alopecia (he is now 10). However, he just got asthma, which is in the gene group with alopecia. I have also learned that 2 distant relatives alive now and possibly my toupee-wearing great grandpa have/had alopecia. Now I know where I got it. I still work, enjoy friends, go to events, shop, live. There are now TWO men who do not mind my baldness, and long-haired one who is trying to contact me long distance, even though he is married. Go figure. My age now? Nearing 62. Will I ever meet a person who wants to settle down with me as family? Not sure, but I do not spend my days whining about it. I get dressed and go to work, watch grandson's sports games, and cook nice meals for myself.

Stop griping and start living. You young 'uns have SOOOOOOO many more years to go, countries to see, jobs to try, college to complete, children and adults to enjoy, art to create. I want to hear/see your FUNNY alopecia challenges, witty comebacks, creative head gear photos, new romances, new businesses, etc. Every blog I write here is aimed at making others think, gain insight, smile, nod or find latest research. What are you giving to AlopeciaWorld, especially the children and teens, when all you do is whine and gripe? Be a part of what helps us all, and you may even help yourself. Think about how you sound, to us, yourself, your partner, your boss and coworkers, your potential dates. Think about the hopelessness you present to fragile, worried children, spouses, best friends and parents (who are NOT as informed or in touch with this baldness thing) when you obsess and cry constantly. This alienates them. There is a part of you that can still be a strong family member, listener, friend. I want to meet THAT part of you.

As to information...do you realize how many hundreds of discussions, groups, videos and blogs are already on here to answer your question? Go see the monthly archives! You will be surprised!