thank you, mary...

so, as many of you know (or are about to find out), i'm currently enrolled in cosmetology  school & have been since last april. i've had quite a ride that will come to an end in november. other than the normal bookwork, testing, & time on the clinic floor playing with guests hair, nails, & faces, i've also had extracurriculars; including but not limited to plays, photo shoots, & fashion shows. i adore doing hair & makeup & look forward to starting my career.

among the  many opportunities, i was presented with one of my most favorite to date late last spring. it was a wig competition & the wigs were going to be donated to the south carolina oncology associates here in town. i was immediately intrigued. 

wait, i'd never even made a wig. could i make a wig? i sure wanted to try. for cancer patients? why, yes...i could help someone to forget for a brief moment in time about any hair loss from an illness & feel some sort of normalcy. & selfishly, i did it a little for myself...to test my comfort zone & to maybe learn & grow for the sake of my craft.

i would complete my mission of making a wig, compete in said contest, & win 2nd place. but this blog isn't about my victory of placing; i'd already reached that goal just by putting myself out there & creating something that i was truly proud of. no, this is way bigger than me.

a couple of weeks after the competition, we were notified that one of the local news crews would be visiting the school to interview the contestants about their process & inspiration for our wig designs. (mine was simply that i know & have known cancer fighters & survivors & that awareness is key, especially among my own age group.) a few weeks after that, they'd come back...this time with a cancer survivor & recipient of the very first wig. unfortunately, i was unable to come to school early due to last minute notice. i would soon find out that my wig was chosen! i was bummed that i wasn't there, but felt so honored & excited & knew that the other two winners were taking excellent care of her & the styling.

she introduced herself as mary haddon when she called to thank me that afternoon & i apologized that i was unable to meet her at the school. she called me...to personally thank me for entering this competition & giving her the convenience of long hair again! she said it'd been some time & she couldn't wait to show her daughter, who often pulled out old pictures that reminded her of her once flowing locks. you know how you can tell when someone is smiling over the phone? i did that for her. i was a blubbering mess all night because my heart was so full!

fast forward to tonight. as i'm getting in from school, shoving my face with leftover pizza, talking to the hubs, & reading emails, facebook, etc., i'm shocked to see that dear mary haddon had passed this evening. i immediately cry...& i can't even believe what i've read. & i mean sobbing...for a woman i've never met, but felt so connected to. i text a very close friend, who i suspect might still be up & know will have the right words to console my bewilderment...& she does. the hubs confirms the sentiment.

but, i'm a little teary-eyed still & a lot heartbroken for her family. i'm not sure why our paths crossed, but i'm thankful for it. 

life is so freaking short. & i have so many questions, but for now, i just have to continue to strive to do my little part in this big world. & here come the waterworks again...

thank you, mary, for everything!