January 21, 1996

Alfalfa

"Look at the Alfalfa." This was always a funny Little Rascal's anecdote around the dinner table. In 8th grade, I started growing my first "Alfalfa". My definition of alfalfa: baby hair growth around the top part line that sticks straight up in the air.

Around age 13 I lost about a half-dollar size patch of hair on my part line. At first I freaked out. People were going to see the very noticeable bald spot. My mom, my styling consultant even today, showed me how to part my hair slightly to the right to cover the spot. The balding was even unnoticeable in a pony tail because of my thick hair.

With eventual re-growth came my first "Alfalfa". The hair had nowhere to grow accept up. As funny as it was, I still did not want to stand out too much at school. Styling gel easily kept the hair down. Gels turned out to be a miracle potion during future re-growth periods.

The affects of alopecia areata could have really affected my psyche going into high school, but because of a cute "Alfalfa" my perspective on the disease remained light. This post is in memory of my first "Alfalfa" and for the ways it made me laugh.