Maggs - Maggie
February 23, 2011
It really took me awhile to decide what to say about myself. Don’t get me wrong, there’s a novel-length life to tell, but who has the time? So, here goes:
I’m happily married for a 2nd time, living on the Maine Coast, mostly due to the fact we have a 25-foot Freedom yacht (that may be a stretch) named “The First Salute”. Our 2 cats are Deke, a Maine Coon Cat and Gingersnap, a short-haired calico with attitude. Tom works for a university as the CFO and, as a registered nurse, I work out of my home office as case manager.
Growing up in the rolling farmland of Central New York State in the 1960s and 1970s, I had a fairly non-eventful childhood dealing with 4 brothers and trying to pass the various tomboy tests they held. My Dad was a factory worker for years until the computer age began and my Mom was a “housewife.” It seemed I was the only one with the weight issue although Mom always struggled with her weight. It wasn’t until my grandfather died and I went to live with my grandmother that I realized I was “fat.” That was due to a cousin who also stayed with my grandmother: cheerleader type, petite, adorable.
At age 15, I felt ugly, uncoordinated, geeky and, well, devastated. At that age, who isn’t? I remember coming home a few weeks later and crying to Mom that I was “so ugly”. She put her arms around me and said, “honey, you are beautiful to me” as she handed me one of my very first diet books. From then on, I rigorously counted calories and ended up losing 25 pounds, earning myself really cool, wire-framed glasses (yes, another nail in the ideal of a teenage beauty queen: glasses and orthopedic shoes).
So began my weight loss journey. I “officially” joined Weight Watchers in 1981, becoming a lifetime member in 1982. It wasn’t a dramatic loss but it was the same 25-30 pounds I had lost and gained (repeat times 5) and would continue to lose and gain for the next 3 decades.
Weight does not define who I am but it certainly impacts on how I feel about myself. So, more about “me!"
I love to travel and have been in many exotic locales (Oman is, perhaps the most exotic to date). We were in Egypt just prior to the “Arab Spring”. One of my brothers is a diplomat so our trips at times are weighted towards his location. It would be nice if he would get out of the Middle East! Tom and I have traveled to Paris (my 40th birthday), Italy (our 10th anniversary), Cancun (Tom’s family’s reunion), and various places in the U.S (San Diego, Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Michigan, Chicago, Iowa—after my Hurricane Katrina gig, but that’s another book).
I’m a voracious reader. Due to our small town location, I’m involved in our women’s health library (Stephen and Tabitha King gave us seed money and we’ve got a beautiful facility). I also moonlight as a charge nurse at our local nursing home. I’ve recently been accepted as a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (4 ancestors fought for our country and I’m mighty proud!). I’m also the proud aunt of 5 nephews and 6 nieces.
I am so delighted to have found the SOPER site on the Out of Control board. Thanks to BMAC, I believe I’ve found a “home”, so to speak, with real sisters!
I’m happily married for a 2nd time, living on the Maine Coast, mostly due to the fact we have a 25-foot Freedom yacht (that may be a stretch) named “The First Salute”. Our 2 cats are Deke, a Maine Coon Cat and Gingersnap, a short-haired calico with attitude. Tom works for a university as the CFO and, as a registered nurse, I work out of my home office as case manager.
Growing up in the rolling farmland of Central New York State in the 1960s and 1970s, I had a fairly non-eventful childhood dealing with 4 brothers and trying to pass the various tomboy tests they held. My Dad was a factory worker for years until the computer age began and my Mom was a “housewife.” It seemed I was the only one with the weight issue although Mom always struggled with her weight. It wasn’t until my grandfather died and I went to live with my grandmother that I realized I was “fat.” That was due to a cousin who also stayed with my grandmother: cheerleader type, petite, adorable.
At age 15, I felt ugly, uncoordinated, geeky and, well, devastated. At that age, who isn’t? I remember coming home a few weeks later and crying to Mom that I was “so ugly”. She put her arms around me and said, “honey, you are beautiful to me” as she handed me one of my very first diet books. From then on, I rigorously counted calories and ended up losing 25 pounds, earning myself really cool, wire-framed glasses (yes, another nail in the ideal of a teenage beauty queen: glasses and orthopedic shoes).
So began my weight loss journey. I “officially” joined Weight Watchers in 1981, becoming a lifetime member in 1982. It wasn’t a dramatic loss but it was the same 25-30 pounds I had lost and gained (repeat times 5) and would continue to lose and gain for the next 3 decades.
Weight does not define who I am but it certainly impacts on how I feel about myself. So, more about “me!"
I love to travel and have been in many exotic locales (Oman is, perhaps the most exotic to date). We were in Egypt just prior to the “Arab Spring”. One of my brothers is a diplomat so our trips at times are weighted towards his location. It would be nice if he would get out of the Middle East! Tom and I have traveled to Paris (my 40th birthday), Italy (our 10th anniversary), Cancun (Tom’s family’s reunion), and various places in the U.S (San Diego, Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Michigan, Chicago, Iowa—after my Hurricane Katrina gig, but that’s another book).
I’m a voracious reader. Due to our small town location, I’m involved in our women’s health library (Stephen and Tabitha King gave us seed money and we’ve got a beautiful facility). I also moonlight as a charge nurse at our local nursing home. I’ve recently been accepted as a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (4 ancestors fought for our country and I’m mighty proud!). I’m also the proud aunt of 5 nephews and 6 nieces.
I am so delighted to have found the SOPER site on the Out of Control board. Thanks to BMAC, I believe I’ve found a “home”, so to speak, with real sisters!