Going Sly for the second time

[sometimessly]

I was sitting on the fence.  I don't have any problems with hair loss at 45 but know enough guys at the gym, at work, neighbors, etc that were BBC that I kept toying with the thought.   So I signed up for St Baldrick's last year (2009).  My wife thought I was nuts and REALLY did NOT want to come to the event!!!  To make things more interesting, I added the challenge that if I could raise $1000 I would keep it blade shaved til Memorial Day.  Guess what.  I raised over $1200.  I wasn't sure whether to feel touched that I know so many people willing to chip in for a good cause or whether I should be concerned that so many people wanted to see me bald.  Personally, I'm not sure the look was for me, but held true to my word and stayed Sly for 2 1/2 months.  When Memorial Day rolled round, I bowed to my wife's wishes and let it grow back. 

The lessons to be learned:

If you're sitting on the fence, St Baldrick's can be a great motivator.
          a.  By making it public that you going to shave, it's hard to back out.
          b.  Whatever your true motivation for shaving, you look like a hero.
          c.  You're raising money for a great cause.
          d.  You're in good company on shave date.
          e.  By 'making it more interesting' ($1000 to keep it clean til Memorial Day) I committed myself to keep the look for a while
          f.  If you decide you like the look, you don't have to explain, just keep it.

I'll be going Sly for the second time March 17.  This time, my 13 year old son is joining me (though he's not going to blade-shave).  To make things more interesting, he hasn't had a haircut in over a year. To make things more interesting for me this year, if he and I combined reach what I raised alone last year, I'm keeping it shaved til Memorial Day again.  This year my wife is looking forward to coming out the shave and my son and I are two thirds of the way to reaching our goal. 

Sorry, I don't have a Google Picasa account so I didn't post any pictures.

Tom

http://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/mypage/participantid/370873

[Arnie]

Welcome to the World of the SLY...again...

[ozzie]

Welcome back to the SBGs!

[Papa Don]

Welcome back Sometimes!  What a great post!  And thanks for thinking and doing the right thing for a good cause.

[D.A.L.U.I.]

Great idea for bbc, but let me suggest something .  If you exceed your goal by more than you did last year--Stay Sly until Independence Day.  You never know.   

[sometimessly]

Added pics from before and after last year's St Baldrick's.  Last year I told people $1000 til Memorial Day, $2500 til July 4th. $5k til Labor day.  I was surprised to see it made $1200.  Doesn't seem to be as much interest this year.  My son and I combined are only up to $800 with just 5 days til the big shave.  The event is up to 57 shavees including 14 cops and 4 firefighters AND 1 lady.

[sometimessly]

Tomorrow's the big shave.  A little nervous, but can't wait.

Tom

[-Doug-]

Thanks for raising so much money for such a worthy cause. Good luck with the shave! Be sure to post some pics.

[BALDANDRE]

Good luck man..you look great bald..a lot younger....

the beard looks killer with it too!

[shojon07]

welcome back, Good Luck!

[sometimessly]

Changed my profile pictures to 2010 before and afters.  I think I agree with BaldDoug... Last year's beard looked killer.  Not so good without it this year.  I may have to grow the beard back.  Raised enough to commit myself til Memorial day.

There was a really hot high school girl at this year's St Baldricks. Walked in without a single donation.  She said she'd shave if she could raise $1000.  She raised nearly $1200.  She got her dad to help shave her.  Wow!

[sometimessly]

30 days tomorrow.  When the corporate matching gifts get added in, my 13-year old son and I will have raised $1650 combined for St Baldrick's.  My son shed 8" of hair.  I told people that I'd stay blade-shaved until Memorial day if he and I combined could match my last year's total of $1239, at this rate I'm probably committed until the end of June.  After 4 weeks, my son's got a pretty good crew-cut going.  I'll let mine grow back at some point or nobody will give next year.  My 16-year old son says he's going to join us at St Baldrick's next year.  My wife says not to expect her to shave the following year...

http://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/mypage/participantid/370873

[Mikekoz13]

Good for you and your son. You guys Rock!!! And Dude.... you look great SLY.

[D.A.L.U.I.]

That's a great move, positive.  Great your son is learning these lessons early too.

Crazy suggestion, you rock the sly look, and the face fur looks like it could be a really nice beard, why not keep the beard for the next year and offer it up for the St. B festivities, and keep the smooth noggin for a full year?   Just an idea .

[wpruitt]

Like father, like son !!