ANNIVERSARY POST

I woke feeling humbled and blessed this morning. Last night over dinner, I shared with my husband and son that 3 years ago I was packing a suitcase preparing to go to the hospital for surgery. Devin said, "I can't remember you any other way than you are now." I asked if he had any memories of when he was younger and our being together and he said he did, but that I always look the way I look now in those memories. He simply does not remember me fat. A blessing. I am holding my own in sizes 6-8; I continue to work out and spend as much time outdoors as possible. A blessing. I continue to come to this Board often, even when I'm on the fly. When you post of your successes and happiness, I smile, I laugh out loud, I clap, sometimes I yell, "Woo-hoo!" from my computer. It's all become routine in my home. When you post of your trials and disappointments and you are in pain, I become sad for you; sometimes I cry real tears for you. And I try to respond in any manner that I hope will be of help, even if only to offer a shoulder to lean on. Thank you for being here for me these past three years. As I type this, I look forward to this next year post-surgery as I time when I hope to fully understand this life as I live it through a normal sized body - my column in WLSLifestyles Magazine is called Living Normal - and that's what I think I'm finally figuring out. It's not about being perfect. It's not about depriving myself of anything that might be considered "bad" food choices. It's about living, loving, laughing, and enjoying life and just plain simply taking care of myself and those that I love. Including you. Take care, my dear, dear friends. Love, Your Reenie

Happy Anniversary Dear Maureen!! As always, you express yourself beautifully! One of the great blessings of this surgery was having the opportunity to meet you in the hospital and develop an important and (I hope) lasting friendship. As for this wonderful March board, I feel that you are the glue that holds us all together and I'm sure that the rest of the "Marchers" will agree. Like you, I am reflecting on "Normalcy" in my 3 year post. Being normal is both a wonder and a challenge for me, but I hope to spend many years learning to be normal. Thanks, as always for your support and friendship and once again, Happy Anniversary!! Mike

Well, if I'm the glue than I must be an off-brand because the Board just isn't as held together as it used to be. I miss so many of us and I so wish we'd all get back to being regulars here - I need us so badly! Thanks for your kind words, Mike, but as much as I love everyone here, I confess to the ultimate ulterior motive - I NEED this Board to stay well and healthy and on track. I wish I could wave a magic wand and get everyone very active on our Board again - love to all, M.

This board is what made me get this far. Yes, I agree with Mike. You are VERY important here & sure hope you and all will stick together. I beleive that is what keeps up doing better than others. We have somewhere to relate our problems & attributes as we go along. Take Care & Happy Anniversary!! Marilyn, the Bearlady

Maureen - thank you for this post! I love that you are the glue that keeps us together and you always have something to say to make me think. Girl, you need to do something though....you need to email me a new picture of yourself and I'll set it up for a new picture for you on the boards. That picture is so old you need something updated for us to see! It is your anniversary, after all!!! Dina

Well, now I have to call you Elmer because Mike is right, you really are the glue. I'm so glad that you've allowed me to share this journey with you. There have been plenty of ups and downs, but we've stayed the course. I don't know that I've ever been or ever will be normal, but I'll fake it till I make it. Love ya, Connie