Mom Talk
Reflecting on 10 Years in OKC A community worth celebrating BY CHRISTINA MUSHI-BRUNT
T en years ago, a job relocation from Indianapolis, Ind. to Oklahoma City meant leaving the only place our kids had ever called “home.” They were born there. We were part of an incredible church and school community that had walked through so many significant joys and sorrows of life with us. My mom community celebrated with me in completing my doctorate, the births of our three children and career successes. This same community also held me together after a pregnancy loss, my husband’s job loss and my cancer diagnosis and treatment.
THE BRUNT FAMILY KICKS UP THEIR HEELS AT DANCING IN THE GARDENS.
When we learned of our impending relocation to OKC, I was devastated. I did not want to leave that loving and supportive community. I didn’t want to leave the comfort of knowing no matter where we were — at school, at church or in the community — there were people who knew and loved us deeply. Our friends were our family. I was certain we would not find the same sense of community in a city in which we knew no one and that was located over 700 miles away from my family and our dearest friends. It took a while — likely due to the hostility I felt toward the relocation. Ten years later, I can attest I am grateful for the life we’ve built here in Oklahoma. Once I opened myself up to what the OKC metro has to offer, my perspective about the move changed. Below are my favorite reflections on our family’s 10 years in the Oklahoma City community. MOORE STRONG We were still living in Indianapolis when we watched the news coverage of the devastating May 20, 2013 tornado. Knowing we would be moving to a state famously (or infamously?) known for its severe weather worried me. We ended up choosing to move to a neighborhood that fed into Briarwood Elementary. We chose it because the newly rebuilt school had safety measures that gave us some peace about our kids’ safety should bad weather arise during the school day. What we quickly learned was this community is an incredibly connected and resilient one. We heard first-hand stories from new friends who feared for their children’s lives and from teachers who sheltered children in their classrooms on that fateful day. Throughout these 10 years, there have been many times in which the phrase “Moore Strong” has been exemplified. It has been a privilege to be a part of a community that rallies together in the face of adversity.
THE BRUNT FAMILY MOVED FROM INDIANAPOLIS TO OKLAHOMA CITY 10 YEARS AGO.
22 METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM / JULY-AUGUST 2024
Made with FlippingBook Online newsletter maker