Life is so very, very full right now.  That’s how I need to start this blog.  I’m aware of this full feeling every waking moment.  In the space of just a few months, the major plot lines of my life have all decided to come together for a pow-wow.  Some of them have teamed up and decided that they tell the next part of the story together.  Some long established antagonists have been told that their part in the story is done and now they are deciding whether or not to leave gracefully.

For those of you just meeting me with this blog – welcome!   And, holy heck, how do I tell you where I’m starting from?!  Well, first – I’ll send you to my “What’s This All About” page that gives the best summary I can:  https://rodgersbeach.wordpress.com/about/.

Eventually, I intend this blog to be about anything in this full life that I want to talk about.  But we’ll start with what’s right in front of me – a major reconstructive surgery after 150 lbs of weight loss over the last 10 years!  That happens 3 weeks from today and I’ll use this blog as I go through this huge milestone.

I have a lot to say about how I got to 320lbs, how I was able to turn and face it, and all that journey has done for me and to me.  The hardest part has actually come as I got to be the smallest I’ve ever been in my adolescent and adult life – when I thought it would be all about joy.  My weight did a number on me that somehow I had managed to live around and above for 25+ years.  The demons it created (see aforementioned antagonists) have helped shape many things about my personality and drive that I love and rely on, but it is time for them to stop helping and say goodbye.  They apparently feel quite at home, though, and insisting that I at least pay the moving expenses.

It’s my hope that by sharing my stories in this form, I will add to the voices that are out there for those who are looking for them.  I certainly was!  I don’t intend to pull any punches.  I’m going to talk about the details of the surgery and the recovery.  I’m going to talk about my feelings and the elements of my life.  I’m going to both rail against the misconceptions and endorse the truths that I’ve found for me along the way.

I’m grateful for you listening and I hope that we’ll have some forum here to engage.  I welcome that!