Why My Wife Shaved Her Head

If you read my you may have figured out that St. Patrick’s Day is somewhat of a big deal. 

Sure we joined the throngs of people who invaded Public Square on Saturday.  Sure we ate our share, and probably your share of corned beef too. Sure we drank some beer. 

OK, we drank quite a bit of beer.

But there was one thing that went down Saturday that many people didn’t do or possibly aren’t even aware is fast becoming a Cleveland tradition.

At 3pm my wife and I joined what looked to be about two, two hundred fifty people in and around A.J. Rocco’s Pub. Channel 3 WKYC’s Maureen Kyle was there to emcee an event that got the fur flying. 

Literally.

The St. Baldrick’s Foundation has been raising money here in Cleveland for the last ten years by shaving participants’ heads. Of course family, friends and perfect strangers are asked to donate for the cause. 

And if some are licensed beauticians or barbers some donators may even get the privilege of actually doing the shaving. 

The money that is collected is dispersed to various organizations that perform research into ending childhood cancer. So far this year the Cleveland chapter has raised over $186,000 and donations are still being accepted.

Did I mention that I also jumped into the fray? 

That’s right; we made it a family affair.  Now I know what you are saying, “What’s the big deal with a guy shaving his head?” And my answer to that would be, “It really isn’t a big deal.” But I didn’t come here to talk about that, hence the title of this blog. 

This actually wasn’t the first time my wife has shaved her head for the cause.  Three years ago she did it so it wasn’t like she was walking into this blind.  That certainly makes it all the more courageous. You see it is a big deal for a woman to shave her head, especially for someone like her who is the hair stylist profession. 

My wife knew going in that people who came into the Best Cuts in Lakewood would give her a double take and maybe even ask for someone else to cut their hair.

Women are SERIOUSLY attached to their hair and it would be understandable for someone to be leery of letting a bald headed person color, perm and or style their hair. After all if they don’t have any hair to style themselves how can they do an effect job on another woman’s head? That would be a shot in the wallet for her.

But that is only half the story. 

You see my wife has to live her daily life with a bald head. People at the grocery store are going to look twice at her. People at the library may even whisper to one another about it. 

But the sad part is most will not have the courage to ask her why she would do such a thing. 

So if you are driving down Franklin Blvd. and you look over into the vehicle next to you and see a woman with a shinny head on her shoulders don’t ask yourself why she would do that to herself think to yourself, “I bet that lady is doing her part to fight cancer.”