I found this board and I think it's great. I don't think there's a question I had about being bald that hasn't been answered here.
I just turned 47 and had noticed in the past few years some thinning on top, but nothing serious. I figured I had another ten years or so before I'd have to do anything about it. But recently someone took my photo from the top as I was bending down, and I saw the top of my head (not normally seen), and my scalp was showing through right there!

I was shocked, and since then I've paid more attention to what I have up there. I normally look at myself straight-on in the mirror, so don't notice as much, but it's really started falling out rapidly in the last year. I always told people that when it starts to go, I'm not going to carefully cultivate that last little patch of hair on top, nor resort to a funky comb-over for those who try and escape the inevitable.
Althought I don't have it with me (I'm at work), I managed to create a decent Photoshop image of myself completely bald, so I was able to get a visual of what's in store. I showed it to my wife and she basically said, "Don't you dare!" But I think that she'll understand once it's all gone, since I've brought up my hair loss to her often lately, and I know that she knows it bothers me and that a bald head is coming no matter what I do.
So - I'm preparing. I used to have a goatee and shaved it off, but I started (this morning) growing it back. It's going to be much grayer this time around, so I'm going to give it a week or so, then color it brown with Grecian Formula (to make myself look ten years younger, so they say). Once I have it in place, the hair will disappear. I'm not quite ready for a cueball look just yet, so I wanted to have something to set off my baldness - plus I like goatees. I'll post my normal picture, along with the Photoshopped one, as soon as I can.
Wish me luck!