Deleted (C)

Pulled for submission

Locks of Love

I got a haircut today.  So this hair is now headed to Locks of Love, an organization whose purpose is as follows:

Our mission is to return a sense of self, confidence and normalcy to children suffering from hair loss by utilizing donated ponytails to provide the highest quality hair prosthetics to financially disadvantaged children. The children receive hair prostheses free of charge or on a sliding scale, based on financial need.

If you're thinking about donating hair, it needs to be at least 10 inches long.  Granted, this will take many months to grow out.  But here's a photo gallery of some recipients (Locks of Love doesn't allow these photos to be reproduced elsewhere) to keep you motivated in the meantime.  

Several ponytails are required to make a child's hairpiece.  Normally, these hairpieces will retail for $3500-$6000, so you can see how financially daunting this would be for most families, without some help.  Locks of Love accepts financial contributions, too.   

So.  Giving makes me feel good; having hair makes a child feel strong and confident.  Pretty much a win-win situation, wouldn't you say?     

(Oh, and most of their donations come from other children.  Just something to think about regarding your kids/grandkids, too.) 

(Because they asked me to.)

Labor Way

For those of you who stopped by before, thanks for reading and commenting.  I decided to delete that post because it didn't sit right with me. 


--

Need a book to believe in? Boy, have I got the one for you. Jonathan Franzen’s Freedom is a novel for the ages. The one phrase that keeps leaping to mind is Dave Eggers’ tongue-in-cheek title, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius. But without the irony.

Franzen’s writing effortlessly illuminates this cross-generational story of familial break-up and fragile redemption, while the characters—real, flawed, heartbreakingly human—emerge in full brilliance. His canvas is large, and his stroke is sure.  I didn't read this book; I lived it.