When we hear the word cancer, so often we think about pain and suffering. But cancer has its funny moments!
Last week, I went to Old Navy to buy some clothes for the Fall. I was having a wonderful time trying on jeans and sweaters, hoodies and tops. There was a young attendant who was helping me with sizes and suggestions. We had perfected a routine where I would try on an outfit and come out of the dressing room. She would look at me and give me the thumbs up or down on how it looked on me.
After about the eighth time of doing this, I enthusiastically came out of my dressing room and she screamed as she saw me. I didn’t know what had happened, and asked if she was alright. She hung on to a clothes rack beside her and pointed at me.
I looked at the mirror in my dressing room and realized that my wig had fallen off my head and was caught on my shoulder. It was quite the sight as my nearly bald head (with gray and black hair starting to grow rapidly) made its unwelcome and surprising appearance. Within minutes, I went from an elegant woman to someone who looked like they were from Mars, with a bad hair day!
The humour of the situation struck me and I started laughing uncontrollably.
In between my laughter, I explained to the woman that I had cancer and was wearing a wig. She did not quite know how to react to this news. And then she started to laugh and we became partners for that one scene in the moment. It was therapeutic and uplifting.
In dealing with my cancer, I have embraced many different looks. At the beginning, and for a long time, I had a hard time seeing myself bald. Now I rock the bald look! I have a blonde wig and sometimes show up as a redhead. Then there is the California, long hair curly look and a posh spice look. I experiment with berets and scarves. Interestingly, each look allows me to morph into someone different, without changing the essence of who I am. And it keeps things interesting for Nagib, who is never sure what he is going to encounter when he comes home after work!
-Munira
