A Touch of Grey
My hair is starting to grow back now, with a touch of gray. Actually, a little more than a touch.
The picture on the left shows the stubble starting to grow last week. Saturday, I hung out with a few ample-haired friends, John Backschies and Rick Turner, at the Washington-USC game. Backschies has shed his Husky roots, and is staunchly pro-USC now, having graduated from that institution. I still cannot respect that.
I think John may have regretted his decision after Saturday's beatdown at Husky Stadium. The Huskies knocked off #3 USC in a stunning upset. That was truly amazing, storming the field with the Husky fans. I have never received more high fives and bear hugs in my life. And I'm a Coug! Well, I cheer for the Dawgs every Saturday except one. I still love the Dawgs. I grew up travelling with the team, and went to four Rose Bowls with them. Some Cougs don't get how I can be loyal to both schools. They say it's wrong. There's nothing I can do. It's in my DNA.
Speaking of DNA, mine has been scrambled around a bit as a result of chemotherapy. It's apparently not unusual to have your hair grow back a different color or texture after treatment. Mine is coming back a lot more gray than before. It's very soft. And it may also be curly. It's too short to tell just yet. My eyebrows are growing back in fuller as well, and have turned lighter too. Doc says sometimes hair grows back differently after treatment, but typically reverts back to its orginal color and texture eventually.
Seriously, though, I'm not worried about the hair. I'm really not. I loved being bald. I never would have known how much if I never would have lost that mane of hair. I've been thinking of the lyrics of Touch of Grey by the Grateful Dead:
Oh well, a Touch of Grey
Kinda suits you anyway
That's all I had to say
but it's all right
I will get by, I will get by, I will get by.
I will survive.
This was taken just before meeting with doc today. He says that everything is looking good. I am right on schedule with radiation and treatment. The cancer is good and dead. I'll get zapped five more times, and then I am done with treatment! I will be in remission next Thursday. I like the sound of that.
Every silver lining's got a touch of grey. I will get by. I will survive.
The picture on the left shows the stubble starting to grow last week. Saturday, I hung out with a few ample-haired friends, John Backschies and Rick Turner, at the Washington-USC game. Backschies has shed his Husky roots, and is staunchly pro-USC now, having graduated from that institution. I still cannot respect that.
I think John may have regretted his decision after Saturday's beatdown at Husky Stadium. The Huskies knocked off #3 USC in a stunning upset. That was truly amazing, storming the field with the Husky fans. I have never received more high fives and bear hugs in my life. And I'm a Coug! Well, I cheer for the Dawgs every Saturday except one. I still love the Dawgs. I grew up travelling with the team, and went to four Rose Bowls with them. Some Cougs don't get how I can be loyal to both schools. They say it's wrong. There's nothing I can do. It's in my DNA.
Speaking of DNA, mine has been scrambled around a bit as a result of chemotherapy. It's apparently not unusual to have your hair grow back a different color or texture after treatment. Mine is coming back a lot more gray than before. It's very soft. And it may also be curly. It's too short to tell just yet. My eyebrows are growing back in fuller as well, and have turned lighter too. Doc says sometimes hair grows back differently after treatment, but typically reverts back to its orginal color and texture eventually.
Seriously, though, I'm not worried about the hair. I'm really not. I loved being bald. I never would have known how much if I never would have lost that mane of hair. I've been thinking of the lyrics of Touch of Grey by the Grateful Dead:
Oh well, a Touch of Grey
Kinda suits you anyway
That's all I had to say
but it's all right
I will get by, I will get by, I will get by.
I will survive.
This was taken just before meeting with doc today. He says that everything is looking good. I am right on schedule with radiation and treatment. The cancer is good and dead. I'll get zapped five more times, and then I am done with treatment! I will be in remission next Thursday. I like the sound of that.
Every silver lining's got a touch of grey. I will get by. I will survive.
Posted by Bill Wixey at 9/24/2009 12:08 PM 
Categories: Cougs, radiation, DNA, USC, Grateful Dead, Huskies
Tags: Cougs radiation DNA USC Grateful Dead Huskies
Categories: Cougs, radiation, DNA, USC, Grateful Dead, Huskies
Tags: Cougs radiation DNA USC Grateful Dead Huskies
Good news, Bill - hair growing back - cancer in remission! HOORAY! Keep up the good work and as Spock would say, LIVE LONG AND PROSPER!
CB
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Congrats! Such great news!
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YAY! for being done with treatments soon! We loved having you on the show today, thanks for sharing!
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Your hair is looking great! If the gray really bugs you, there's no shame in coloring it.
It's absolutely amazing how positive you have been through your fight. I really look up to you.
I have MS. I try to be positive about it but sometimes it's really hard because I am only 26 and I don't know when or if I will be in a wheelchair. I go to bed every night hoping I don't wake up suddenly numb, yet again. How do you stay so positive and upbeat?
My thoughts are with you and I'm sending you healthy, positive vibes. You are such an inspiration.
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Hi Katy:
Believe it or not, I have some really lousy times too. I get upset, and I get frustrated, and I wish I handled some situations better. Allow yourself to have those moments. Dealing with a disease is tricky. I think the key is measuring how you react to situations. Life isn't what happens to you, it's how you react to it.
My hair doesn't bug me at all. I frankly don't really care all that much. Whatever I get is good with me at this point, although I think it's coming in kind of curly (!).
I wish you the very best, and know that there is positive energy and prayers flooding your way. Please stay in touch.
Blessings
Bill
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I just wanted to send good thoughts and prayers your way and tell you that you are an amazing fighter. I had heart failure when I was 29 and spent time in and out of the U of W before I received my new/older heart (My donor was 2 1/2 years older then me) May 18, 1996. She was a single mom of two and my kids were 9 and 14 and now her kids and mine are in their twenties
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