Life threw me a curveball a little over a week ago, so I bought a last-minute ticket and flew on a crowded plane to be where I needed to be.
I went to a land of dust, where everything looked stranger than I remember. I lived there five years ago, and not much has changed.
Yet, it all seemed drastically different. Because I have changed.
The concrete soaring throughout downtown Dallas was foreign to my eyes. The sky was reflected in the mirrored facades, decorating each building with spongy clouds.
Peculiar enhancements of the city confused me even more.
Bigger and better restaurants had popped up in a land where food reigns supreme. My skinny jeans already felt tighter just being there again.
Eating out is predominately what you do in Dallas, unless you’re into shopping. Then, you can lose your paycheck on any other number of lavish designer offerings.
Forever destined to battle brown in the harsh climate, additional green spaces are now perched here and there, sprinkled with questionable forms of art.
Like this…
When I first landed the city was foggy and grey. Stark buildings were still visible, jutting out into the horizon like perky breasts.
Everything seemed hazy to me. The spontaneity of it all, fueled by an emotional impulse to be with my mom when she received her test results.
Emotional time is an understatement.
This was our second round with breast cancer, but the familiarity of the process wasn’t comforting. Recognizing the tough times lurking in the shadows, ready to charge our lives once more, seemed so scary and unfair.
Five of us showed up at the doctor’s office with my mom and surprised the nursing staff with our sizable support group. We jokingly called ourselves her posse.
Hey, whatever it takes.
Being back here again at this point in my life is different than the time before, almost twelve years ago when I was a lost and confused college kid.
This time I thought…show her how much you love her, do everything you possibly can to give her strength. So, I wrote a tribute to her last week and I showed up on her doorstep.
That was all I could do. So I gave it my all.
There was an exquisite outpouring of kindness from many of you readers out there. Thank you.
Several of you are part of my blogging family and it seems like we go through a lot together in this thing called life. Many of you have been through similar experiences, and either supported a loved one or even lost one.
And though this is a personal time for me, I felt compelled to not only write a piece for my mom, but to share the results with you all as well.
We received the best news we possibly could have. She has Stage 1A.
There is still a long road to travel, but my mom is beautifully brave. For the time being the haze has lifted and those blue skies are a welcoming sight.
My mom will totally kick cancer’s ass once again. I just know it.
Britt Skrabanek 
All that love will turn things around. Just knowing you’re there for her and that she has a posse behind her must help a lot. Dallas does look surreal. Great eye art though. 🙂 Hugs to you and your mom!
The “support posse” is key! Dallas is definitely its own not-so-little world. Thanks for the hugs, lovey.
Sending good thoughts and prayers to you, your mom and your family.
Greatly appreciated…thank you so much.
So glad to read this positive news, hun. Have been thinking of you all week. Sending you big hugs xox
Thank you, pretty thang! I appreciate your thoughts and hugs! xoxoxo
I’m so glad you are able to be with her right now. I’m sure that in itself is strengthening. That sucker isn’t going to know what hit it!
It was strengthening for her, so I’m glad I could swing it. Totally, that sucker’s in trouble. : )
A sincere good luck to your mum, I hope things sail through if not smoothly, then in a manageable way.
Thank you, Jess! Think we’ll sail right through.
How great that she had her whole “posse” with her. It’s moments like these that we need them most.
The posse was awesome! Definitely the way to go.
Glad that you had the best news possible in the circumstances Britt. Good luck and will be sending you all best wishes.
Thanks, love. We appreciate the kind wishes.
Your writing and description of seeing Dallas again made me feel how surreal it must have felt. I’m glad your mother got a manageable diagnosis. I know how glad she must have been to see you and how reassuring it was to see and hug her. You’re both so strong.
Dallas is a pretty crazy city, even more so now that I live in a smaller one. My mom was super happy to have me there. Glad I made it out!
Such good news, Britt! Wishing you all the best.
Thanks, Karin! Appreciated. : )
[…] As many of you know, back in February I found out that my mom was battling her second stint with Breast Cancer. If you missed the posts, you can read about the experience here “This one’s for you, Mom” and here “We Surpass the Tough”. […]
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