Pattilyn
At age 24, 2 years after the birth of my son, I got down to 132 - even 20 lbs. lighter than my pre-pregancy weight. But after that the weight just gradually crept back on - partly due to my great Southern cooking and, I guess, partly to a hard, unhappy life where food was my only pleasure. It's funny though, I never thought of it that way back then!
Finally in the late 80's, when I was 33, I took control of my life, at least I tried - I went back to college and got my degree in Computer Technology (my 1st life change and the 1st best thing I ever did for myself). But within the first year my husband became ill and I had to switch to night school to work full-time during the day and part time, at a restaurant (more food) on the weekends.
I finally finished my degree and started working at the college as one of their programmers. I developed an interest in herbs, at first for cooking, but then it developed into a full-fledged past time. We always had a big garden every year and loved working with plants, especially my husband. Since he still couldn't work at anything full time (chronic fatigue,etc.) we decided to grow herbs, perennials and dried flowers. We lived in the country in SC so had plenty of room to put in huge gardens and a couple of greenhouses. I did craft shows, selling live plants, dried herbs, herbal vinegars, home-made potpouri, dried flower arrangements, etc. Then I meet a friend who knew a lot about the medicinal side of herbs and taught me a lot - I started taking herbal supplements, started cooking better (rather than the old-fashion southern cooking that my mother-in-law taught me). I had always been active, but I lost weight, lowered my cholesteral and just became healthy - still over weight though but no health problems. I had gotten up tp almost 220 and lost down to 180. The herb business lasted about 18 months, my husband couldn't overcome his pain any more to care for things and I just couldn't do it my myself anymore, plus work full-time.
A few more years went past, my son became an adult (didn't say he acted like one and at 22, was still living at home) and my husband and I separated (my 2nd life change). His pain and depression got so bad that he gave up on life and I had to start living!!! I moved to a nearby, larger town, had a great job and life was sort of good - started making friends and having fun - something that I hadn't done in a long time.
Then we got word that the company I worked for was closing the office in SC (they had been bought by Convergys out of Cincinnati, OH/Lake Mary, FL) a year earlier) - in 6 months I would be out of a job. Convergys still needed a few people to support this one type of software and a few remaining clients, but that support would have to be from Lake Mary, Fl.
I knew it was time for a change, I had to completely break myself away from the situation in SC and Convergys made me an offer I couldn't refuse - so off to Lake Mary, FL I went (my 3rd life change!).
to be continued...
