You have no idea...

My husband and I were at a luncheon at church Sunday. I sat next to a lady and we were chatting and getting to know each other. The meal was catered, with Fettucine Alfredo, Spaghetti & Meat sauce, green salad, bread, and brownies for dessert. I got a little of each entree and some salad and quickly discovered that I liked them best mixed together. So I mentioned this to the lady beside me, and then I noticed she had nothing but a big salad her plate. She said "I'm on a diet." I smiled encouragingly, inwardly grateful I will never have to diet again. She went on to tell me how she had lost 130 lbs. on NutriSytem, and has a personal trainer 3 times a week so she'll show up at the gym, and how it's been a rough year and a half. She's even had the surgery to remove excess skin from her belly and upper arms. I sat there in awe of her, but I think she misread the expression on my face. She said in a slightly dismissive sort of manner "well, I wouldn't expect you to understand... only those who have that much weight to lose can truly know how good I feel now." A tear welled up in my eye. Of course, I knew exactly what she was talking about, but even better, I had been mistaken as someone who doesn't have (much of) a weight issue! It took me a minute for all of this to come flooding in, and then I threw my head back and laughed. She looked puzzled, and I told her I'd had WLS in October, and if she had known me then she would know that I totally understood how good weight loss feels. We were instantly bonded, not only as friends, but as people who are emerging from the struggle of their lifetimes. While it is the same struggle, we are handling it in two very different ways. And any day I get mistaken as a skinny person is a good day in my book!