Needless to say my fears were unfounded. Other kids were very accepting and I quickly made many friends. I learned many years later that my dad had went in to the principal and made specials arrangements if if required them. Learning that my loyalty and love for him went up 20 notches.

Middle and High School went fine for me. I suffered from a complete lack of self confidence, which is not completely abnormal for teenagers. In the back of my mind I always felt as if people were just being nice to pity me. I had many opportunities to date and ask out ladies, but I always convinced myself not to because I was afraid of being rejected. As a result I suffered in silence.

College was a welcome change. It was if I could start over, reinventing myself. Lots of people choose to live differently, dressing differently, thinking differently. It was heaven.

The summer before I went to college I worked as a stone mason for a family friend. The heavy lifting and sunlight caused my body to explode. I grew muscles everywhere, and I had a beautiful tan. I didn't think anything of it though, until my first college party. Ladies were actually coming up to me, talking to me, standing near me, being touchy. What a great feeling!!!

Hello.

The best for me to begin this is tell you a little about myself. I was a normal child until 5th grade....and then...(its not hormones or puberty) my wonderful blonde hair begins to fall out. First in small patches...then one summer morning I looked in the mirror and I was completly bald. What a shock that was!!! The horror, the disbelief, the pity. I was devastated. I didnt know one soul my age who was bald..i n fact I used to sit in church and snicker at the older men who were bald and how they tried to cover it up. Now it was my turn to try and cover it up.

I lived in an area with thousands of small lakes. Swimming and boating was a daily occurence. Of course I made a big production out of things and skipped out, instead sitting at home feeling sorry for myself. (in my moms words a pity party)

I dreaded the start of school in the fall. What would I do? How would I hide my affliction? I continued to worry all summer.

Finally on my birthday at the end of August my dad took me fishing. My father is a tall, quiet, dignified man who gave up his dreams as a photographer to raise a large family. He speaks rarely and keeps to himself. Very much an introvert. Of all the people on this planet, I value his advice and words most. If he told me I was doing soemthing wrong, I would change my ways. So on this trip he tells 2 things....you were made to be bald (ergo my perfectly shaped skull) and you cannot hide the rest of your life. He told me that there will be people throughout your whole life who will be superficial and mean (hes still right) and those who will accept you for who you are. Spend your time on the later group. Thats all he said...and he continued fishing. What a man!

to be continued