Cool Haircut and a Clarification

Y'all.

Some of you may have seen my cool new haircut:

First, I want to say, I love this haircut so much. The first time I had this haircut, I was 19 years old. I have had this haircut at least a handful of times in the subsequent almost 20 years. With this haircut, I've been asked if I'm a lesbian (as if a haircut is all it takes). With this haircut, I've been called sir (which is hilarious to me). With this haircut, I've had to buy hats because I forget how warm hair is. With this haircut, I've felt more like me.

I've cut my hair this short for so many reasons: rebellion, needing a change, laziness, a general sense of why not? Mostly, laziness.

When I first posted this picture on FB, I got so many kind words of strength and solidarity, so many likes and loves and people cheering me on and sending good vibes. I never expected to have such strong reactions from so many of my friends and family, and I so appreciate every nice comment and encouraging thing everyone has shared.

But I wanted to clarify something, because this is one of those things that is definitely more than my diagnosis here.

I had short hair in 2006 when I lived in Texas:

 I had short hair when I went skydiving with The Husband in 2010:

I had short hair on this trip to San Diego with The Husband in 2011:

I have had short or shaved hair so many times. Many of you have known me when I've had longer hair, but the truth is that I never feel more myself than when I have very short hair. The first time I met The Husband, I had a shaved head. When I feel like I'm spending too much time fighting my curls, I cut them off.

I've had a love/hate relationship with my hair for as long as I can remember. I have tried to learn to love my hair, but what I have learned is that I love my hair the most when I have the least of it.

I feel most myself when I have very short hair.

This means that, while I greatly appreciate all of the kind words of encouragement, I want you all to know that this Cool Haircut is not actually a Cancer Haircut. It is actually just a haircut because I like my hair short.

It also helps that after the second brain surgery, someone spilled a giant glob of surgical skin glue in my hair, and it was driving me absolutely crazy!