Family reunions!!! WOW!
We have a family reunion about every three years on one side of the family. All of my cousins are old geezer like me and we used to have a blast when we would all get together in the summers. I walked into my family reunion Friday night and no one said a word to me. I was hurt, upset, a little angry and went to the restroom to sulk. We stayed for a little while and then left to go shopping. I thought well, it was just weird, but I'd see everyone on Saturday and give them what for. My brother didn't leave until after we did and called me that night and was laughing his head off; he said that they didn't have a lclue who I was.. I think it sounds stupid, but they kept asking him where I was. He told them that I was there and left. I still feel weird about my looks and am self-conscious, and never really realize how much I have changed. So Saturday, we came to the reunion late because of a nurse pinning ceremony and I sat down beside my cousin Nicole, and she heard people talking about Nancy and asked where I was, and I said "I'm right here" and put my hand up and she said, Nope, I said Yeap, and she said Nope!" Finally I said, "Isn't anyone going to ask me about my WLS!" My aunt from Georgia said, "You don't look like Nancy, but your must be her because your mouthy!" I don't like bring attention to myself, but deep down was happy that I could be healthy and fit enough to join my family, be healthy enough to endure the heat, which I never, ever could before, and fit enough to get my cousin in a headlock for putting ice down my back!! You have to understand that my family is very obese, diabetic, heart disease, strokes, etc. and most are no spring chicks anymore. It hurt my heart to see them talking about taking diabetic injections and eating mounds of cake, fried chicken and booze. Most were happy for me, and of course the horror stories about what they knew about WLS were repeated to me! I thanked God all day long for this gift, not because of the way I look, but because I was able to be with my family and not have to take pain pills to get through the day, bloated and sick from overeating, dragging my right leg around, and laid up all day Sunday because I had dared to go out and try to be normal. I love life and pray to God everyday to help me fight my food demons and help me to remember to take my supplements and eat my protein. I made a point to tell everyone of my obese family to think hard about WLS and how it could change their lives.
I've never spoken openly about WLS with very many people, but my family is my family and they are so unhealthy.
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