To all of you who have taken spills..............

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone.

I just finished reading a bunch of your posts talking about the different times that you have fallen down, and were not within five feet of a DECENT human being to help you. Well, all I can say is, although that has never happened to me personally, I find it un------- believable that people can be so cold hearted. Actually, the truth be told, I DON'T find it unbelievable, because as it relates to obesity, I have had my share of humiliating experiences also.

And now..........speaking of humiliating experiences, I am, hopefully, about to add some humor to your day!!! This is one of those "I-can't-really-believe-this-happened-to-me" sort of experiences. Today, I went to the grocery store to do some shopping. I went down the isle where all the condiments are, and I picked up a jar of pickles. Well, for some reason (and for the LIFE of me I cannot think of what that reason WAS!!) I stood there HOLDING the jar of pickles instead of putting it in my cart. I was glancing over some of the other things on the shelf (still holding the pickle jar in my hand) when this woman who was passing by asked me if I knew where the vinegar was. I said, "yep, sure do." And with that, I lifted my hand with the pickle jar in it to point the direction out to her, and, you may have guessed this, the pickle jar went FLYING!! And then of course there was the sound of crashing and crackling as the pickle jar went careening to the floor, pickles, juice, and little shards of glass EVERYWHERE. So, while I waited for my face to return to a NORMAL shade, they called for a clean up in the isle. So, I calmed down a bit, and continued on my way. I had to go over to the deli next to get some cheese. Well, wouldn't you know it, the deli was very busy, as it was around lunch time, and they make sandwiches and such at the deli counter. So, I noticed that everyone there was taking a number, so I made my way over to the little number-taker thing. Well, I excused myself as I stepped between two women to get my ticket, and, unbeknownst to me, there was a little packet of mustard laying on the floor. So, as I took that last step to grab my ticket, you guessed it, I stepped on the mustard packet!! And guess what? It splattered open, and all over the pants of one of the two ladies that I had stepped in between!! ABSOLUTELY UNBELIEVABLE!! I thought to myself, "This CAN'T be happening"!! Could I BE more humiliated? Well, the answer to that, my friends, is YES, I could!!!

Because this story is NOT over!!! I apologized up one side and down the other to this woman, and thank God, she was totally understanding. So, I got what I needed from the deli, and was about to head on up to the checkout stand when I realized that I had forgotten to get some oranges. So, I headed on back to the produce section to get my oranges. I stood there looking them over thinking to myself that they didn't really look that nice this time, and when I found one that looked nice, I picked it up to look at it. Well, that made the orange next to it tumble down, but luckily I caught it and put it back. Then another orange started tumbling and I was able to catch that, too. Well, of COURSE, this, for SOME REASON started an AVALANCHE of falling oranges!! I swear, all I could think to myself was, "This can't be happening. For SURE there is a CANDID CAMERA person in this store somewhere, about to come out and make his/herself known to me. But, alas, no Candid Camera personnel to be seen anywhere. There was, however, a produce manager standing right nearby who had the benefit of watching my show!!! I JUST WANTED TO DIE!!!! Thank God that this man had a sense of humor!! He came over and assisted me in picking up the oranges and said to me, (sensing my embarrassment, I'm sure) "What? You can't JUGGLE?" I said that no, I couldn't, but if he stuck around awhile longer, he was SURELY going to witness another one of my in-store performances!!! He just laughed, and I thanked him for his help, and began my journey to the checkout stand.

Although it was about a minute away, it was agonizing, as I was SURE that something else was going to happen along the way!! Well, I made it safely to the checkout stand WITHOUT being thrown out of the store!!!!

So, my friends, my point in all of this is that humiliation comes in many different forms!!! I still cannot believe what happened in there today!!

I'd swear it was all a setup!! I came home and called my husband and he laughed so hard I thought he was gonna die!!! He said, "Oh honey, that could only happen to YOU." I laughed too, because, sadly, I have to AGREE!!!!

So, my dear fellow WLS'ers, I thought that I would share that with you all and hopefully make you smile. I thank you all for your honestly and willingness to share your experiences with everyone. I have to admit, I don't know if I would have had the nerve to tell you all this if we were sitting in a room face to face!!! At least not without having somewhere to CRAWL and hide!!!

Well, sorry this was so long!! Thanks for letting me share.

Pam

Pre-op in MD

Dr. Vanguri

Surgery date July 9, 2001