Go West, Young Man (OT)

Go West, Young Man

 

“Go west, young man", a quote and a sentiment attributed to Horace Greeley, a famous New York City newspaper editor and political activist from the era of Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant.  Many believe that those words served as the impetus for development of the American West.  I am about to see some of that development. 

 

Tomorrow morning I will be accompanying my youngest son as he heads westward to attend school just north of Seattle.  We have made plans to hike in a few interesting places as we make our way over the Rockies to the coast.  They won’t be particularly arduous hikes and, as such, I have no worries about keeping up with my son, but it has occurred to me that just three years ago I weighed 380 pounds and I wouldn’t have been able to consider going on a hike any further than the distance between the couch and the refrigerator.  Today I am especially thankful for having embarked on my WLS journey and becoming a thinner, healthier man who can enjoy some time outdoors with his son.

 

My son is turning out to be a bit of a Renaissance man, with a keen, inquisitive, philosophical mind, a caring disposition, creative in artistic and musical endeavors, good with his hands, and possessing a delightfully ribald sense of humor.  He moved back home a year ago and I think we have since developed a wonderful, mutually supportive relationship.  He has helped me face some of my weight-related mental health issues and I think I have helped him gain a sense of direction in his life.  His traipsing off to seek his fortune is both a joyous and sad thing for me as a parent.  I will miss him terribly, but I am thrilled that he has this opportunity to nurture his dreams and is willing to share a little of that experience with me.

 

RP

Enjoy your time with your son and nature.  You are about to see some amazing parts of our country!

That sounds like a fun trip. Have a blast.