Anyone who enjoys to read or write knows the importance of a good opening. This is something I struggle with the most when I blog. I sat here for a solid 20 minutes, staring at the screen, wishing for a witty way to segue into today’s topic, ignoring the fact that a problem with bad news is that there often is no (appropriately) clever way to share it. That is what makes it so awkward, and in that nature, I’ll just say it… I’m having surgery in 2 weeks. I’m not happy about it. I stare at my ankle, shake my fist, and make my most intimidating face, but no silly gesture can change the facts. So… I vent. I look for the positive when I can. I ignore. Today, I write.
I have struggled with a giant cell bone tumor since before my move to Boston. Thankfully, it is not malignant, but comes with its own set of problems. They are uncommon, and very little is known about these malicious little suckers. Essentially, they feed off of my bone. The best I can explain is to imagine if The Blob had a teeny tiny baby, which then decided to use my ankle as a crib… and just couldn’t stay away. This will be my 3rd surgery, which is an unusually high recurrence. It’s almost like my prior surgeries were the tumor leaving for college and then moving back in when it couldn’t find a job. But I digress…
In light of everything, there is much to be thankful for. James and I have found ourselves in the best possible situation. If life hands us lemons, we’ll try to squirt them over some lobster. 
We were lucky enough to schedule the surgery and recovery time over May & June, when I mostly had vacations and workshops scheduled, so I am happy to report I will be back on my feet for the bulk of my wedding season! My surgeon has never seen it come back a 4th time, so we are hopeful that this will be the last time going through this ordeal. Additionally, we were reminded over the last few weeks just how much our community here has flourished. The outpouring of support has been overwhelming in the best of ways!
A handful of additional silly silver linings:
1. James has agreed to finally watch LOST with me. He claims it’s a pity agreement, I think he is happy to have an excuse to give in to the awesome.
2. Offers of good home-coooked meals are building. As a foodie, I welcome this.
3. I wondered when I would have time to give my new branding and website all the love & attention it needed. Now I know.
4. All of my friends with boring office jobs will get to enjoy more distracting mid-morning conversations via Instant Messenger.
5. Because laughter is the best medicine, I’ve come up with a rather silly give away that will both lift my spirits and provide one lucky reader with something fun in return! Keep your eyes peeled for the full details this Friday!
Many thanks to everyone for your support! I look forward to the opportunity to connect more over the blog in the coming months. Lastly, because everything is more fun with a photo, here is a sneak peek at last weeks SoCal family shoot:
Cheers,
Briana
To make it fair, I have created an example using my favorite meme of all time (apologies to those who wanted to use this):
