MEMOIRS

I've been taking a memoirs writing workshop with my mom for the last few months. She is a prolific poem writer and wants to get them organized in a coherent manner to make a book for all us kids. I'm her typist, but thought taking it with her would help with my blog writing.

The last assignment was to write about somebody who has made a difference in our lives. I don't even know where to begin with that. I've met a lot of people in my life and most of them have been influential in one way or another. I guess we're supposed to pick the person who has had the greatest impact on us, but there are so many people from whom to choose! Needless to say, I have not even started this assignment, I might never.

I feel that everyone I come into contact with makes some difference in my life, good or not so good. And the not so good probably have some positive affect, even if I'm not immediately, or ever, aware of it. I am one of those people who thinks that everything happens for a reason, so that jerk who cut me off in traffic this morning could have saved my life, but I'll never know! There have been a lot of people I have never met and never will who have impacted my life.

Animals too have had a huge impact on my life. I love my cats like they are my children and I still miss the kitties that have gone on to the giant catnip field in the sky, Windy, Max, Miles, Alec, Winston, all my precious babies. Fish in an aquarium, stray birds and mice I've tried to save, they've all left an imprint, taught me something about myself and the world in which I live. There was one sheep in particular that changed my life forever.

I think maybe that sheep was the most influential, really. She was at the Topsfield Fair being shown in the 4H sheep tent. I squatted down to see her at eye level and pet her. She nuzzled my face and that was it. I decided right then and there that I would stop eating meat.

I had been reading a lot about vegetarianism and the impact livestock farming is having on our planet but hadn't made the final commitment to giving up meat. I had stopped eating meat the previous spring but when I smelled the first cookout of the summer, it was all over. In November of 1988 I stopped eating meat. In December of 1988 I stopped wearing leather and using products that contained animal-derived ingredients. In October of 2009, I finally gave up dairy, eggs and honey. I feel lighter, healthier and happier, knowing that I'm not harming other animals and I'm taking better care of myself.

Becoming vegan is probably the single most important thing I've ever done.

GOOD KNEES GONE BAD

When I was 11, I was diagnosed with Osgood Schlatter Disease and I was excused from gym class for all of sixth grade. Since then my knees have been a little sketchy. Most of the time they're cool, but every once in awhile, for no apparent reason, they just "go out".

As you know, I've been working out at the Y for a month and I'm loving it. Well, about a week ago my knees started to bother me, the left one especially. One night last week it got so bad I was lying on my bed crying in pain and frustration. I was so worried that, after the progress I've made, I'd have to give up the aerobic workout I have come to LOVE.

I went to my doctor and had some x-rays and found that I have mild arthritis in the left knee and moderate arthritis in the right. I am not surprised by this, it runs in my family. My grandmother was all but crippled by it and my dad had knee replacement surgery a year ago because of it.

For me it's a bit of a catch-22. I have been overweight all my life, which exacerbates the arthritis and when I'm finally doing something about it and actually losing weight, the knees are bad enough that changes must be made to the workout. No more elliptical for me. I have begun to swim.

The Y has a 75 foot long pool with lap lanes available every day, all day. I went for the first time on Thursday thinking it wouldn't be as good and it kicked my ass! I did 5 laps of the crawl and it made me dizzy.

My armpits are sore.

I can't wait to go again tomorrow!

Today I had my first workout at the Taunton YMCA. It has been 16 years since I belonged to a gym. YIKES!! I have been walking and cycling on and off for those 16 years, but it's not the same as belonging to a gym. I was able to use the elliptical machine for a total of 15 minutes. I burned 190 calories and got my heart rate up to 140. I've got a long way to go.

Last Friday, November 6th was my 48th birthday and I made a birthday resolution. I resolve to change my eating and exercise habits to be as healthy as I can be. I have also challenged myself to lose 100 pounds and stop taking blood pressure medications by my 50th birthday. I have quit drinking coffee and soda. I've been vegetarian for 21 years, so now I'm vegan, having cut out dairy and eggs. I have cut way back on drinking. I have begun to eat whole foods, cutting out as much processed food as possible.

Part of my decision was the health problems I already have, hypertension, 3/4" height loss, recurring foot injuries due to being overweight. The other things that have influenced my decision are two books, Skinny Bitch by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin and The China Study by T. Colin Campbell and Thomas M. Campbell II. Real eye-openers, I highly recommend them.

There was a time when I wanted to live to be 120 years old. I don't so much care about quantity as much as quality now. If I'm to live a long life, it has to be a healthy one. So, here I go.

Join me, won't you?