So … yesterday I was crying on the phone to Jon telling him that I’m going “home” – whatever that is. Today? I’m feeling better.
I spent the day at another school thing where I met a bunch of people, so that helped – a LOT. I was talked out by the end of it and really wanted to sit on the dang bus home in peace and not talk or otherwise have to be engaged – but I love people. I need to be out having people talk to/at me – until I’m ready to be done, of course.
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A person in my (relatively small) group today happened to be extremely overweight. I’m guessing 450+.
We were sitting on flimsy, no-arm, rolling, trendy chairs – and this person’s chair just suddenly snapped off and broke and the person hit the ground and fell back into the wall, pulling the table with them.
The whole room gasped and turned, of course, and several people jumped up to help while others adamantly asked what happened. I just sat there horrified for that person – and wishing everyone would SHUT THE HELL UP and not force the person to say OUT LOUD – as they’re STRUGGLING TO GET UP and obviously almost physically CAN’T – that the chair broke.
It was bad.
PSA: Do not force a person – especially an extremely obese person who was sitting perfectly still on a small/cheap piece of shit chair and then suddenly hit the ground – to explain WHAT HAPPENED. Damn. Have some sense and try not to add to the humiliation, ok?
Or maybe I’m projecting? All I know is it left me tearful and sad and feeling like I wanted to hug the person because their body language read utter humiliation like I’ve never seen.
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I stopped at the grocery store on the way home and came home with these:
I noticed that I spontaneously smiled when I walked into the grocery store and saw all of the flowers on display. Half the price of a pint of Ben & Jerry’s (seriously) – and they produced the same result, if not better – no guilt that I inappropriately used food to cheer myself up.
(I didn’t realize until I got home that I don’t have a vase here.)
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I actually prepared a meal for myself tonight that involved knives and bowls and did NOT involve the microwave.
I read about primal chicken nuggets somewhere, but the recipe had a bunch of crap that I didn’t want to deal with – so I didn’t even bother to bookmark it. I decided (on a whim, in the grocery store) to create my own tonight, though, so I bought 2 chicken breasts and came home and did it.
I cut up one of the breasts (and learned I was too lazy to deal with the second, so I froze it) and dipped them in milk + egg (because I think that’s how my grandmother does fried chicken? I have no idea where I got that). Then I rolled them around in an (unmeasured) almond flour + parmesan cheese + pepper + garlic + salt combo. Baked.
It was surprisingly easy. I might do it again.
Just a thought, I think God puts us in places for a reason. You are an inspiration to many and there are many more people out there you are to meet! Love the flowers, that always cheers me up too! Your dinner looked yummy. I am going to Chattanooga this weekend. We are considering moving there. Did you feel like it was a better overall living there than Memphis?
Thank you! That’s a very kind thing to say!
Oh, I LOVE Chattanooga. I definitely felt like life was better there than Memphis. It’s just easier. I went from a 1 hour commute to 10 minutes, so that colors a lot of my opinion – but life just felt easier and calmer and more pleasant, in general. Coming from Memphis, it had a small town feel, but yet not small town like Millington small, if that makes sense – just smaller/easier/safer/calmer city small.
I lived right across the river from downtown Chatt in a neighborhood at the NorthShore and loved it, but I’m not sure about the schools in that area (or, in general, really).
http://www.northshorechattanooga.com/
Overall – my first thought was EASIER and calmer, like I said. Seriously. That + the fact that it’s a beautiful/fun area, convenient and close to Nashville and Atlanta (if you need the bigger city fix), and has tons of things to do just make me miss it. I’m jealous! We try to go every year for our anniversary, but I don’t know that we’ll make it this time since we’re so far away.
Thanks for the info! I definetly would like calmer and safer. Things around here are getting worse instead of better. I will let you know what I think after the weekend!
Definitely let me know! That’s exciting!
I love what you said about the broken-chair woman. So many people (even heavy people) look down their noses at heavy people. I remember a weight loss counseling session where as a group we were admonished to remember what it felt to be fat and how it is easy and very common for the formerly fat to treat the currently fat with scorn. It’s so wonderful to see your compassion for someone who’s been humiliated like that. I’m not sure what field exactly you’re going into, but if it’s working with people–sad ones, fat ones, the disadvantaged–you’re going to be a raging success.
Thank you for the kind comment!
Honestly, I think I will always – ALWAYS – remember what it feels like to weigh just about 300lbs. I was that person WAY longer than I’ve been this person – and it had a profound impact. I’m 100% ok with that if it means I don’t turn into the kind of person who resorts to scorn, you know?