Sorry I've been so A.W.O.L.!

Hello my friends! I have never gone more than a few days without checking in with this board. It has been a few weeks! Busy is a normal state of affairs for me (and everybody else I'm sure), but it has been a life carousel on fast speed lately! Gee.....my sixteen year old wiped out snowboarding on Mt. Hood and was unconcious (he's fine). My daughter's gymnastics team had a home meet which requires the parents to put the meet on. In addition to her being in a meet - the other day of the weekend was full of us all working the concession stand and breaking down the meet stuff. It pretty much took the entire long weekend. Then my father-in-law passed away in California (a blessing - he had a long wonderful life and had fought a long cancer battle) which meant an unplanned drive down to meet up with my husband. Three kids and two dogs - twelve hour drive. We stayed a week and that time was FULL of all that goes on with planning a funeral. A few days after we got home above mentioned teenager was rear-ended. The car that he had just inherited from his grandfather was totaled (he's fine). That involved lots of insurance/car rental, etc. stuff! PLUS....I was expecting a visit from my sister and her husband who live in England. My normal houseguest cleaning frenzy still took place, but amongst all this other stuff. I barely had the time or engery to do what I know all of us do when having people stay in the house! I only list the above to say "man I have been too busy to even sit down and be on the computer at all!" Miss you guys and am interested in everyone's progress. Two things WLS related. At the funeral I was seeing friends and relatives I haven't seen in ages. As in before surgery. I haven't experienced "reactions" for quite a while now, because the people in my world up here are used to the new me. There was a lot people that didn't know it was me. It was a great thing to once again know how far I have come. It also was great to not have any problem coming up with an appropriate and good looking outfit. No matter what the event it was always such a struggle before! Second, I saw my sister for the first time in five years. She was so happy for me. She said I possitively "glow". She is the most important relative in my family (my parents are both gone) and it was really great to get to see her. Allow me to say only on here....for the first time in decades I'm thinner than her. I can't help but be aware of that! Hope to catch up to you all soon. Patty

I am sorry that you had a "Full" plate on your hands, but that things were dealt with and that you did experience some amount of "joy" through out those tuff times. (at least they seem quite tuff to me) Welcome back and congrats on your experiences... Jen M.