The Lighter Side of Weight Loss: Chapter Eighteen

The Lighter Side of Weight Loss                   

 By Sandra Warholic Seeley                                                         

Chapter Eighteen

I feel fairly certain that all of us have experienced the frustration of yo-yo weight loss. A recent WW Weekly reminded us to rewind in order to move forward. No matter how hard we wish that Duncan Windrunner, Roadrunner, Big Fun or Pulse toy would work again, it becomes stagnant unless we rewind that string!

I prefer to think of my weight loss journey as a carousel ride. Yes, I’m riding the up and down horse, but I’m moving forward in a counter clockwise direction (unless I’m a Brit, then my horse is cantering clockwise) at the same time. And guess what? I’m having a blast and I’m that little girl again who loves horses (note to Santa: I still want one for Christmas).

Close your eyes (after you read this) and come with me to Kennywood Park on a nostalgic trip to this Pittsburgh amusement park which also happens to be a National Historic Landmark. We head straight to the Merry-Go-Round to claim one of the 50 jumping horses, by-passing the 14 stationary ones and the lion and tiger and benches for old people. The ride start/stop bell clangs with urgency. We are mounted and ready to trot as the Wurlitzer Military Band Organ plays some of the happiest calliope style music in the world. Our eyes and hearts are shining as brightly as the 1500 lights accompanying us on this ride. We can still see Mr. Kennywood, Anthony Sacramento, the Merry-Go-Round operator for close to sixty years, weaving around our stallions to collect our tickets. And then we are merrily on our way, up and down in a rolling forward motion. I’m crying as I write this because I can still see Mom and Dad waving at me each time my horse takes me around to them. A few more tears because now I hear the calliope version of “Let Me Call You Sweetheart”, a song my Dad always sang to me. Stop the world, I DON’T want to get off, I’m having way too much fun!

Moving forward on my weight loss journey, I want my life to be a carousel ride. Yes, my weight fluctuates, but that makes the ride more interesting. It also makes me want to stay on my horse longer, like for a LIFETIME. I want to hear the music and see the kaleidoscopic colors of days gone by.

Let’s meet next year at Kennywood Park. We’ll sit on the bench that Cowboy Joe has been occupying for decades and swap weight loss “yarns” with each other. Of course, we’ll ride the Merry-Go-Round together and realize just how successful our carousel horseback ride has been. So reserve the date: May 2, 2020. See you soon.

Until next week: Climb on your horses, enjoy the ride and be happier!

Sandra Warholic Seeley - All my life, and half of someone else's, I have lived in a humorous place called Earth. My muse is a tiny menehune from the island of Oahu in Hawaii where I lived for a year. Ernest Hemingway once sat under the exact same coconut tree where I did most of my writing. I'm also a sensitive to criticism Virgo who loves to get paid for writing and speaking funny stuff. Even though my mind is filled with volcanic ash residue and I'm still finding sand in my shorts, I will continue to write until my muse retires or I run out of pretty blue drinks, whichever comes first. Don't be bashful, email the author.