In My Next Life, I'd Like to Be......

Originally Published Dec. 2012                                 

In my next life, I’d like to be RICH and SKINNY.  The end.

 

No, I’m not kidding.  I know that the saying, “Money can’t buy happiness” is probably true (think of all the tragedies the Kennedy’s have gone through) – but, boy I would like to have a stab at thinking I’m happy by being rich!

 

I don’t really need to be rich rich – like winning a huge lottery-type rich.  But, certainly rich enough to ensure that I can live out my last days at home, pay for my funeral, and leave some for my kids and grandkids and maybe a little bit to charity.  Oh – and I’d like to have enough to go on a couple of cruises a year and maybe spend the winter in Florida or Arizona.  And, I wouldn’t mind a few trips to Las Vegas, too.  How could I forget Branson and Graceland – I’ve never been there.  I’ve been on an Alaskan cruise – but wouldn’t mind going again and this time spending a month and getting to know the real Alaska.

 

My goodness – I forgot about Europe!  And China! And Australia – I’ve always wanted to go there.  Thailand!  A Mediterranean cruise to Greece!  Prince William’s wedding is coming up in April – even though I don’t have an invitation, I’d sure like to go there and just soak up the festivities.

 

Now that I think of it – I do have to be RICH.  But, in order to do all that traveling, it would help if I were healthy.  So – add that to my list.  Now, I’d like to be RICH, HEALTHY, and SKINNY.

 

Yes, SKINNY.  Not Twiggy or “super model” skinny.  A size 10 would be just fine.  In that way, I could wear my sister’s clothes, too.  I was not overweight while growing up.  When I first started working out of high school and spending 40 hours a week at a desk, I started putting on a few pounds.  So, I’d lose 10 or 15 and then was fine for a couple of years.  Then, I’d pack on the pounds again and take them off again.  Two of my four children weighed ten pounds and I still got back into normal clothes six weeks after giving birth.  So, I never considered myself obese or anything close to it.

 

But, sometime in my forties, the weight just piled on – and on – and on.  You name the diet and I had tried it.  I was a lifetime member of Weight Watchers.  I knew the calorie count of every food group.  Oh, I lose 20 or 30 pounds.  Then – all of a sudden (or at least it seemed like that) I found them again!  How did that happen?  It just couldn’t be what I put in my mouth, could it?

  

I lost lots a weight when our daughter got married.  When our first son got married three years later, I had gained back that weight – plus some.  I was placed on three different high blood pressure pills – in addition to depression medication.  Then, I found out from my sister that my mom was really really worried about my weight and just couldn’t find the words to talk to me about it.  This depressed me even more.   I was always successful in losing weight.  I just wasn’t successful in keeping it off.

  

I looked into bariatric surgery.  In June 2003, I elected to have the lapband procedure.  I lost 100 pounds and have kept it off ever since (it is now February 2011).   I’m certainly not “picture perfect” by any means.  But, I don’t have to shop in large-size stores anymore.  All my meds (including depression) have been taken away.  Sure, I’d like to loose a few more pounds – but I don’t really have to do that in order to be happy with myself.  I’m there already.

  

And you know what?  I’m already RICH – I have a great husband, wonderful and successful children, super grandchildren, a loving family and supportive friends.  Norm and I have been fiscally responsible and are able to take many of those trips that I talked about.  And since I lost all that weight, I’m HEALTHY again.  And since SKINNY may not be a word that really describes me, I’m okay with being a size 14.

  

So, in my next life, I’d like to be……….. just who I am right now.  I wouldn’t change a thing.