Part 21: Home Sweet Hometown - A Year Later
- Kristina Crystal
- Jul 26, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 14, 2024
Your girl's a little sappy today...
This year's annual summer pilgrimage to my Michigan hometown was a bittersweet symphony. Every fiber of my being soaked up the warmth, comfort, and familiarity of my hometown. It's a feeling so profound, I wish I could bottle it up and savor it forever. It's a place that holds a piece of me, a connection no Florida sunshine can replicate.
This year, I ditched the camera for the trip, wanting to soak up every moment without the distraction of capturing it. I wanted to commit every sight, sound, and sensation to memory. From the crisp morning air on the back porch with a cup of coffee to the glass of champagne with the chorus of crickets at dusk, I would just close my eyes and thank the universe for giving me those perfect moments—pure joy.
A heckin' rollercoaster of a year...
A year ago, this same journey marked the beginning of an unexpected life challenge: total hair loss. The shockwaves of that discovery still reverberate through my life. With each passing anniversary of this change, different emotions unfold. I stand here now, a starkly different person than I was a year ago. The emotional journey has been arduous, even for a badass babe like me. In reflection, here’s how I sum up this rollercoaster so far:
• First 6 Months: Panic, desperation, experimentation
• Second 6 Months: Embarrassment, isolation, resignation
• Third 6 Months: Acceptance, sadness, bored of it all…. what next?
But life goes on...
My Michigan escape was a balm to my exposed and battered little soul. It’s a place where time seems to slow, allowing me to reconnect with a part of myself that often feels buried beneath the demands of daily life. The beauty of roadside wildflowers, walking through the familiar doors of my favorite restaurants, words of affirmations from my friends, the endless cornfields stretching to the horizon, and countless heartfelt hugs reminding me I was loved – the beauty in all of these are the things that truly matter. As Bruno Mars would say, "hashtag blessed".
Some random thoughts from the trip:
My 2024 Hometown Hallmark Hunk must have been out working in the fields because we never had our meet-cute. (I’ll find you next year, hottie.)
My visit to the cemetery gave me a chance to have a long chat with my dad and brother about how ridiculous this all is. (They agreed with me.)
I learned another new skull-camoflauging-skill when one of my fabulous friends that I met up with on my trip finally showed me how to tie a scarf securely on a bald head. (Game-changer.)
I think I had a point...
Back at my house in Florida, I spent some time with my amazing sister who was in town to hold down the fort here during my trip. She's a saint. These last few weeks were a much-needed reset, a reminder to cherish the simple pleasures. The familiar vibes of my hometown reminded me that amidst the chaos, there's beauty in the ordinary and of the importance of connection. It reminded me that joy exists in the simplest things, like floating in the pool all afternoon with your big sister, and I now need to focus on finding those things here in Florida.
Moral of the story, babes? It's a good life when you take a moment to appreciate it. Here's to turning off your phone and chasing those moments, wherever they may be.
Kristina 🩷
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