Sizzling Summer Changes

At 17, as did other teenagers, I believed I was immune to any threats or physical ailments. Thus, the summer before my senior year, several of us travelled to Lake Waco to spend many hours in the hottest part of the day! Fun. Were we smart! Well, not me.

Playing on inner tubes, going far out from shore...doing stupid tricks in the deepest waters, it really never dawned on me that the beaming sun was 'cooking my fair skin!' Sizzle, pop and sear a little more as the one o'clock sun beamed down. I kept having fun and kept refusing any suntanning products! I DIDN'T NEED THEM!
Wrong.

By the time I arrived home, clear blisters had risen all across the top of my back and shoulders. Ouchy! Was I ever in misery! I spent three days in my front bedroom, topless, on a mattress in the floor with a fan blowing on me! Completey suffering and in anguish, that was the day I decided to be a little smarter in most cases!

Life experiences have prepped us all and taught us many lessons. Thank goodness for patient parents and loving parents. They'd been there, done that and knew it was our turn to do so. I'm not sure that any person has led a completely perfect life without making any wrong turns! That especially addresses me.

Tremendous successes have lighted my path and some of the shadowy areas on my life path were there due to my choices. We have choices to make and more often than not (thank goodness)...I've stayed true to the best course. However, even as an adult, we are not immune to life's pranks and downfalls.

It's been a crazy, amazing year for me. I had Lap Band, lost weight, regained excellent health and determined a divorce was the path I should choose. The road less travelled by many, but, still perhaps a little FM road. It'll getcha where ya need to go next!

Since that time, tremendous changes have occurred with me. My grocery bill has zoomed to 'zip' so to speak. I treat myself with an 8 ounce Coke Zero once a day. Thus, one bottle of Coke Zero lasts me a week. Cost? .99. Past months have seen more than 250 Diet Dr. Peppers come through the door and some other liquids...running close to $300 a month just for liquids.

Alongside the food changes and visits to the market...I've been working the house over. I've given things away, taken things to Goodwill, sold things on the local sale listing and have been cleaning out and rearranging stuff here and there. It's a very different feeling. It's the freedom to return to my tastes in my home and place some cute pics of great nieces and nephews here and there. I love seeing those sweet personalities looking at me today.

I've reconnected with cousins in the League City area and out on the lake. It's a great feeling to reunite after a four year absence to hear someone say, 'you are still family and we've shared everything with you ...you are family and we're glad to have you back.' Ignoring family for an extended period of time for me is one of the greatest challenges faced.

My mother was one who made sure we stayed in touch, got in touch, initiated touch, went to the showers, graduations, parties, reunions, etc. I grew up in her shadow where family carried a tremendous marker. Life, family, friends and, of course,the Lord are what makes our worlds revolve.

The changes have been steady in the past week. Spaces in my home are cleaner than they've been in years! New colors and styles are appearing and the freedom to do whatever in the world awaits is wonderful.

It had been a very long time since I had been out after 4 pm in the afternoon. Now, if I'm out running after that hour or at 8 o'clock at night...I'm whistlin' dixie!! Yessss....it's called life and I'm living it again.

The support from friends and family has been outstanding and means so much to me. And, after the first week, I'm now getting a track on my food, eating, amounts, etc. It takes very little a few times a day....I'm content, but no, not four stomachs and I don't chew my cudd!!!

I've been invited out to the lake tomorrow with Mary and her family. Another fun day of relaxing on the wonderful deck and looking out over their park like backyard and the inlet of water that flows past their property. Trees, birds, wind and nuthin' but time.

Life 101! I'm excelling in it!

A Life Experience/Lesson...A G A I N!! lololol

It's been an interesting six months. My life has taken a new direction...I am officially divorced as of 9 a.m. this morning! The frightening part of the process...had to wait 60 days after filing and the actually divorce took place in the associate Judge's Chamber in 5 minutes. He said, "It's uncontested, what would you like me to do?"
I smiled in shock and replied, "Grant me a divorce????" He said, "done, but let me read through the stipulations."
I recovered my name, Patricia E F..and have been busy, cleaning house, putting things in order, bagging stuff for Goodwill, giving things to my yardman and replacing wall hangings that have been boxed for four years. What can I say, it's me...things I love...but, getting back into 'the groove of life."
There have been dips and dives, ups and downs, ins and outs over the past months, but they are now 'water under my bridge.' I had a concerned Aunt phone me with a somber tone and I said, "stop!" "Celebrate this event...it was for the best." That shocked her and we went on talking. I told her, "after all, I waited a lifetime to marry, so I had to hurry and divorce so I could say, been there, done that!"
Anyhow, life is what we make it. I'm making my peace, love and joy. I have always been a people person and guess what? Still am. The exception to this 'go round' is my lapband!! I'm a healthy woman with a zest for life!
What will she do, you query? I'll keep on livin' and remind everyone that I'm not dead, just took a different path. Will she start dating...not so at the moment. I'm catching my breath. Will she get back on dating sites....not at all. Remember, I have friends from the past...and all of my old acquaintences, friends and family have been patient, kind and supportive....
You know me, don't be surprised at what comes rolling around the corner. I do have a very special friend in California.
We now talk and have fun texting....and, one day, me thinks he will relocate in Texas. That's a good thing...cause "IF IT AIN'T TEXAS...IT AIN'T!' right? lololol
I"ll keep ya posted on future developments with whatever! Today, I know I'm a happy woman, full of life and doing whatever I desire. Spent many hours bumming around my favorite stores today. For my personal gift to me...found a very attractive, framed work that reads..'FAMILY AND FRIENDS GATHER HERE." Yeppers, that's for certain.
My family has always been known to have an open door, warm heart, good food and a used Welcome Mat. That, folks, hasn't changed! She's MOVIN' ON UP ... gettin' down and boot scottin' 'n boogi-n!!!
"Don't Cry for Me ARgentina" as Madonna sang in the wonderful broadway musical. Celebrate a new beginning, a fast paced start and a peaceful heart! That's what my life's about.
A word to the wise...don't let life drag you down into the pits! Do something about it and keep your eyes on a new horizon. There are more exciting things to see and do...it's what makes the world go round!
Hugs to all...keep them phone calls and text messages comin'....got a new Blackberry and absolutely love it.
LIFE 101...gotta luv it!

By the way...going through a divorce, uncontested, means you puruse all the legal paperwork, go to the Courthouse to file, speak with the volunteer lawyer in the basement and anger them that you used Legal Zoom and feel your way around until you stumble in the right door and walk up to the right little cubby hole to shout your wishes. I hate those things!
And, you have to almost undress to get in...be quiet in the courtroom and wait for the man with the gun to motion you to come forward and see the Court Clerk. It's an experience to sit in the courtroom and watch all the people in action. Just made me know I neva want to be hauled into court for a crime!! So, you're all safe!!

Oh, I was told to be there this morning at 8:30 to sign the 'list'! I was there at 7:30 because, for some reason, the traffic was non-existent at the early hour. Very strange for Houston! So, I arrive, hesitate at that 'special room'...cause ya know it's nerve-racking...and move on down the hall to the 246th Court! I walk into the little alcove, grab the handle, pullllll to open and the door said BAMMMMMMN. Oops, it was locked! Sorry! So, I backed off, sat in the hall on a hard bench and waited until 8:30 for the door to open.

The Judge and his 'helpers' were discussing a wedding he had attended. The wedding cost the parents $60,000. The flowers alone, were $10,000. The Judge said, "if they'd called me, I would have done the flowers for half that!" It was a hoot seeing the personalities of them all.

Then, he went and put his robe on! Shhhhhhhhh. Suddenly, it was a courtroom and back to business. I thought, what if stand to read the Prove Up to him and I get a tickle in my throat? What if I can't pronounce this one big word right? What if I sound nervous? Holy cow, where'd did all these people and their lawyers come from, this was my courtroom. Yipes!

But, I got banned to the little chamber across the hall. THANNK YOU, YOUR HONOR!!!

Dance in the rain, live like you were dying and let the wind blow through your mind!
Me