The Cultural Juxtaposition!
The weekend is coming – I can see it in the distance.
Not for a need to get there however, I love my new job (so far). However, the LW and I have some really cool things that we are doing this weekend – hence the cultural juxtaposition reference which I will explain in a minute. And further to that – it got me thinking on another tangent which seemed to segue so well - so what better place for me to ‘report’ those tangents than here – my trusty EP.
Friday night kicks off my weekend with a bang – two things I have missed over the course of the last 10 or so years of my life have been the opera and playing hockey – yes; I am among the few that will admit to loving opera. It really does touch a side of me that makes it that much more special, especially live. The LW and I have never been to the opera together – my size always hindered us from attending events such as live theatre and sporting events; so we didn’t go. When I opened the tickets from her at Christmas it really signalled a change in our lives together – it made me realize that I could finally enjoy some of the things I truly enjoy doing with the person I enjoy doing everything else with.
With that said – we will be yelling things like “let’s go you &#^% harlots” and “kick her a$s” at Roller Derby on Saturday night – now if that isn’t a cultural juxtaposition I don’t know what is. You heard correctly, from opera to roller derby – I defy anyone to suggest that we aren’t a well rounded couple – not as much as we were (pun intended) – but well rounded nonetheless.
Cue the segue – I have been thinking just how different my life has become since I shed the weight and the changes, most of which have been subtle, are still huge when you put them in perspective. I suppose I should expect that when you lose 185 lbs (and counting) that things will be different – people always ask me if it has been ‘life altering’. I usually reply that it hasn’t – but it really has – big-time.
My new job is in the city which means more walking – I would have had to have been very selective about the parking because walking distances was difficult for me. Luckily there is indeed parking right across the street from the new office. However, by walking three blocks I save $4 a day – something I never would have considered.
Coffee would have been a problem – it’s all the way over there (he stands up and points to the Sbux). I would have relied on other people and when they were going all the way over there – now it’s a trip I make with more frequency than I would like to admit or share with the LW (it’s the only vice I have left so you aren’t taking that one).
And finally – and perhaps most importantly – my new job involves client services and although I suck at many things – dealing with people generally isn’t one of them. Now that I am closer to a ‘normal’ size people can finally look beyond what is sitting in front of them and listen to what I have to say and further, companies are willing to allow (for lack of a better term) me to sit in front of their clients – something I am sure was detrimental in my not so distant past.
The moral? (because there needs to be one when you babble as I have) …
Keep at it ladies – and you too will be able to one day paint your own juxtaposition with the person you once were.