We've spent our lives hitch hiking, taking bus jaunts hither and yon...
patching together rides with friends or the taxi driver and all of a sudden,
we WIN a brand new Corvette! It is a stunner... gleaming in the sunshine...
catching the eye of all who wander past. We put down the convertible top and
jump in for the ride of a lifetime. We turn the key and ........
nothing...... NOTHING happens! The disappointment is overwhelming but we
hope, and we push and we work the gas pedal until we finally step out to take a
much needed closer look. How could this happen???! We had not anticipated
this incredible buzz kill. All the neighbors have an opinion... "It wasn't in gear"
"You didn't have the clutch all the way in." "You know you didn't really deserve
this kind of windfall anyway, you loser!" We're crestfallen and alone... we take
a look at the control panel and FINALLY under the hood. What? No battery?!
*I* have to provide the BATTERY!???" Our frustration and disappointment swells
into a buffet size serving of self pity until we realize, "HEY! I've got a flippin'
CORVETTE here!"
Do I need to take this further? Let's hear from you all out there with those
Corvettes that have made it out of the driveway and are enjoying what you've been
given! We're all listening! And if you're on the road but lost... yoooo hooooo...
there's a map in the glove box, but we have to take it out and read it if it's
ever gonna help....
Happy Monday to all!

mickee, all I could think of while reading this post was that you wanted me to GET that this isn't about the corvette at all. Perhaps my take is a little strange but I read the entire post thinking that I AM THE CORVETTE that you are alluding to and all I have to do is do the upkeep and I will have a beautiful ride for the rest of my life. For me, the surgery was the 'battery'.

Okay, I am a little weird but you always make me think of something other than the subject at hand! I love your posts!

Maybe there IS no "RIGHT" answer celadon... I love your interpretation...
I felt like the ultimate lucky one, getting to having the WLS.... it was like a gift.
Let's see what else comes out of this parable!

Ah! Monday morning allusion & parable...
My surgery is the Corvette. My willpower and desire for good health is the battery. If it quits working, the lawls library has the road map. (Food is my fuel) I can drive this thing to a wonderful life as long as I use the resources available to me.
And...if I ever win the literal Corvette, I'm gonna look HOT driving it!
Celadon, I don't think you're weird for what you got out of this.
Thanks, MF, for making me think. (By the way, did you have snow this morning, too? YUK!)

Christine,

I can fast see you're a person that knows how to get everyone's attention. The post title was enough for me. I thought you had discovered a wonderful new gadget, that would do all sorts of wonderful things for me. Hey, cut me some slack, I live alone and my mind wanders sometimes.

Seriously, I have to agree with Celadon! The surgery was definitely a battery I needed. It closed the door on my addiction long enough, that I could prepare for the day when It would return. The door has opened now. I've developed some knowledge and skills about adressing my addiction to food and size. I'm by no means firing on all cylinders yet, but I am put-putting along and extremely delighted and thankful for every little inch I travel.

I don't notice as much day to day, but sometimes I'll be in a situation and look back and notice a change has taken place. That event or person that used to make me dive into a plate of sweet rolls, is now a situation I handle a lot differently and it makes me stronger.

Thanks, for the post.

Oh man! You are thinking so clear this morning Jeanie...!
You must be burnin' high test, girl!
And you are HOT! pheeeeeeeeew! w/ that Corvette you'd be smokin'!

Wow Lee, it's like driving through Kansas! You drive and drive and everything seems the same
and the *POW* Missouri, and then the rolling hills of Kentucky! We sure gotta keep those eyes open!

Thanks, MF.

No matter how pretty the paint, how glossy the tires, how clean the windows are...ya gotta have the power to run the damn thing. Adding a fancy license plate frame will not make it perform...nor will buffing the chrome. In order to power it up, you've got to put in the best fuel. As for what will drive that vehicle...inner faith. The stronger the faith that you have within yourself, the more power your battery will have. If you put that battery in and believe that it will only last for a short amount of time, then it just might die before you get to your destination. You've got to believe that battery will get you to where you want to be.

Instead of: "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can..." that little train should be saying, "I know I can, I know I can, I know I can..."

Wow Kim... I agree! I'd better put away the TurtleWax
and spend my money on a Battery w/ a lifetime
warranty!

To go even further (my brain does NOT want to work at this desk today!)...

There are many that believe that they've been given a faulty battery. They think that their battery isn't as strong as the person next to them...or perhaps that their battery has been exhausted from too many surges in the past. We ALL have the same equipment. We just have to find what charges our batteries the best...for our own needs. You can't just expect a drained battery to power up on its own...it doesn't happen. You can stare at it...shake it...and you get nothing. What makes it fire up? A charge from an outside source! We are all capable of hooking up the jumper cables, we just need to find a power source.

Hey Kim... one major power source for me is spending time in The Neighborhood,
reading and posting. I know I can get a tune up any time I need one!
What do YOU other Neighbors do for a tune up?

I'm off to a meeting till around 9:00... share your ideas in the meantime

My battery is maturity.
I came from an incredibly abusive childhood...
that plus being obese for 48 years had given me a
"face the fear and do it anyway" kind of life.
(I chose to fight...)

I made it - I painted my own canvas.
I traveled the world as an obese executive, dined in the finest restaurants,
stayed in the most luxurious hotels and have had shiny new cars.
Most of which was filled with stress and chaos.

WLS has given me a new life. A new perspective.
I am able to live in the moment, not five paces in front of myself.
I am able to enjoy little things like wearing the same Easter clothes
from last year. I now hear quiet when there used to be loud noise in my head.
I am able to settle down to a simple life and experience love.
I am able to NOT be paranoid about how I appear -
who cares...

I now get to be me - the biggest gift of all.
When I choose to live life, day by day - as life deals it -
this is the battery of my life - choice.
My life, as quiet as it is, is peaceful.
I like myself today.
I choose joy.

I am in it for the long haul!

Hugs and smiles!

Beautiful, Nancy....

Now THAT my friends is resolve and serenity!
Thanks Nancy! I feel yo have used the hard times to
propel you into the good times! Woooo Hooo!
I love it! Thanks for that post!