A Set To Remember

It is no secret that we come from a family of "well-endowed" women. Over the years, we've done some informal research on where they originated. All genetics point to Dad's aunt. Because of this, it is a rare family gathering when we DON'T talk about boobs. In the last (almost) 30 years, I have heard Dad proclaim "we really will talk about anything!" at dinner tables, on car rides, etc. We order sports bras off a special website (thanks to Oprah). We finally realized that Victoria's Secret is that she doesn’t sell bras for women like us. We gave up on button downs as a way to look professional. We know that we are better off with a shirt/dress that doesn't require a strapless bra. I have often joked about cutting them off and donating them to those "less fortunate."

About 3.5 months ago, conversations about boobs that used to be kept to our inner circle went public. Something happens with a diagnosis of breast cancer (well, a lot of things happen but this post isn't about all of them). All of a sudden, it is perfectly acceptable to talk to perfect strangers about boobs. I've talked to waitresses, cashiers, nurses, co-workers. It no longer matters if we are in public instead of at home. Our typically private conversations now happen anywhere, with anyone who will listen. I know about my dermatologist's aunts boobs. I have seen pictures on numerous websites of women who have shared their breast with others going through Inflammatory Breast Cancer. Recently, a friend of a friend created a "Nipple Book" for women who have reconstruction surgery after mastectomies to get tattoos of their nipples. And over 20 people showed up to get their pictures taken (no Piazza women participated in that adventure - that I know of). Turns out, boobs are what most women have in common and most women are having the same conversations we've been having amongst ourselves.

Well, as of Tuesday morning, we'll have one less set to talk about. Mom's boobs will be gone. All the joking no longer seems as entertaining. While I'm curious to see if our conversations will still lead to boobs, it will be hard not to notice the "void" in the room. Will it be true that you don't know what you have until it's gone? I guess we will find out.