People say the darnest things!

[Guest guest]

Hello to all,

I've been seeing some posts lately on this list and others about unkind things

that people have said. Mostly people who are supposed to love and care about

us. And ya know what...it still hurts...whether you have 300 lbs of fat to

" shield " you from the pain or not. People can be amazingly mean.

Some of you may know that I'm working part time at Lane . With my job

situation as it's been I decided that some money coming in is better than none.

Let me share with you what a reality check it's been and how very, very good for

me as well.

When I first started I was afraid that the staff and customers wouldn't like me.

That I'd be the outcast...a size 8 in a large size clothing store. I tried to

be helpful to the customers, but just wasn't comfortable with it. I found that

I was actually judging some of these women....and hated myself for it. I was

amazed at some of the clothes that they tried on. Have you ever seen a size 28

thong??!! Didn't they know what they looked like? Couldn't they see themselves

in the mirror? Couldn't they at least comb their hair? OMG!! I heard my

fathers voice in my head, saying these very words to me. And my friends, it

scared the hell out of me.

At that point, things changed for me. I got my compassion back. I remembered

all too well what it felt like to be these women, to be trapped in 500 lbs of

fat. So I am honest with these ladies. If something pulls I tell them. If

it's too tight, I tell them. Bless their hearts, they have accepted me...some

do say to me, why do you work here? You can't possibly fit into anything here!

And then I tell them that I used to, and that I still have my Lane and

Roaman's charge. (why is that? Am I not cutting them up because I think I may

be 500 lbs again?)

Not one of these wonderful ladies has been unkind to me. Many have given me

hugs, asked to see my pictures and ask so many questions. I don't force my

story on anyone. But if they ask, I share.

Now I started this with people saying mean things and here's what I wanted to

tell you. I took a call at work from a lady asking about our dressy clothes.

She was going to a wedding. I could tell she was upset as her voice was

somewhat shaky. I asked what she was looking for, told her our sizes and made a

few suggestions. She was very happy about what we had and told me that she had

just come home from shopping at Macy's. Seems she is in a motorized scooter and

went to the dressy area looking for size 20 outfits. She could find nothing and

no one wanted to help her. When she finally got a sales girl (and I stress

" girl " ) she asked, " what do you do if you wear a size 20? " and yup, you guessed

it...this little twit had the unmitigated gall to say to this woman.... " You lose

weight! " She left the store in tears. I was so angry!! I told her to write a

letter. Heck, I want to write a letter!!!

So anyhow...the point of all this? Don't really know. But I guess that life is

hard, some days, hours, minutes and seconds harder and more difficult than

others. But doesn't that make the good times all the more sweeter??

Sue

Open RNY 10/26/98

From 500 lbs to 164

Dr Barry L Fisher

Pease visit my site:

http://www.lvcm.com/njtomato/

I believe that friends are quiet angels who lift us to our feet

when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly.