And away we go with another year to do better, be kinder, test our limits and stretch our imaginations. Starting today I’m re-dedicating myself to visiting FS daily as I am always so very inspired by my friends here. I will make the time.
Christmas vacation in Hot Springs was very nice. The house allowed for much gathering as well as private time - it was perfect; I’ll likely never go to a hotel again for an extended stay. Christmas eve included a lot of shopping down on Central Ave - you’d think I’d never seen a boutique the way I attacked and conquered every single store.
Later that afternoon we split off so they could go shopping without me and I could go visit the psychic again (the one I’d seen when I was there last summer). I’m still baffled her accuracy. When she mentioned ‘luck is all around you right now’ for the third time I decided to go to Oaklawn (the racetrack with gaming) and, well, I guess she was right.
So definitely much more shopping. There was a great boutique with beautiful sun dresses open on Christmas day ( the owner said he had nothing else to do ) so after breakfast and gift exchange we hit the sidewalks to walk off the pancakes. Later that evening I took the family to the Maxwell Blade magic show followed by more walking. I didn’t wear a pedometer but consider my walking a ‘win’ as Blondie was complaining ‘what is this.. a marathon?’ when I outpaced her.
Friday was spa day for the two of us. For the first time I had one of the hot mineral baths at the Arlington. Incredible. Wonderful. Amazing. After the bath they wrapped us in hot towels followed by a shower then a massage. My masseuse heated her lotion before applying; it was fantastic. And for nearly a week now I’ve had no pain in my neck or shoulders so I’m wondering how to make a bi-monthly visit to Hot Springs for ‘treatment’ part of my routine.
With the New Year approaching and thoughts of ‘resolutions’ in my mind, the high priority was to abandon more fears holding me back from enjoying life and this public bath was a biggie for me. Feeling so nervous and modest about being nude in front of other women much less being bathed by someone else was so confining. I decided to let go, let it happen, with the realization ‘hey, no way I’m the first flabby wrinkled old lady they’ve seen around here’. With that release, I truly enjoyed it and have felt that same ‘let it go’ begin to affect other areas of my life.
Saturday was ‘me’ time. It wasn’t planned but was nice regardless. I drove up to the mountains and enjoyed the views. Went back to the Arlington for a pedicure and more shopping. Revisited the psychic who finally showed her true colors.
While she certainly has some ‘thing’ that allows her to comment on things (( for example, she noted within the first few minutes that I was in pain in my neck and shoulders although I didn’t offer anything about it - and then said ‘you are going to get relief from this pain within 48 hours - things like that)) I think she’s not able to let her ‘talent’ support her financially so she tried to scam me with the explanation that she has an entire church praying for me and that she needs $25 a week for the candles she’s burning for me. So my immediate reaction was ‘have a nice day’.
I view visiting her much like any other listener, talker, whether it be her, a shrink or a bartender. Just someone with whom I can share things and get a couple of comments that help me look at the situation from a different perspective. But I’m NOT going to be scammed. That’s ridiculous. I felt bad wondering how many others would fall for that.
Which leads me to a really interesting event occurring simultaneously. I do believe I’ve encountered another con artist here at home. Either a con or an idiot. Regardless, I have no room for either in the ‘inner circle’ of Bellawood.
I believe I mentioned this really nice lady I met in November; a recent widow who shared many other similar traits. I invited her to join us at tea at the Adolphus. We have had a couple of dinners since.
When we met, she gave me a long story about trying to raise money to bring her son home from Afghanistan. I considered it odd that she had to pay to do that but I am not all that familiar with the workings of the military so I just listened. No, I did NOT give her money. When I asked about his return status just before Christmas she gave me a vague answer about being in Germany, in a hotel, being reintroduced to civilization. Again, skeptical me arguing with my inner cynic, I just listened.
Tuesday night at dinner she confessed she made it all up - the son, all of it - because she had actually given the money to a stranger she met on Match. I was stunned at her being that gullible or if she thought I was; when I asked if she was going to hire an investigator she shrugged.
She then proceeded to tell me of another wonderful man she’d met on Match who paid off a $5k credit card for her though they too have yet to meet although he’s less than a 5 hour drive away.
This has ‘con’ stamped all over it. I hate that because although it’s not cost me anything financially it has thickened my shell of cynicism; ‘Trust No One’ type feelings. It’s causing me to reevaluate my manners around people to determine if I send out a ‘victim’ vibe or if my ‘weirdo magnet’ is on overload.
So food. Better since returning home but still overeating with respect to portions. Am trying to regain the ability to eat slower and STOP eating when my hunger is satisfied to avoid that ‘stuffed’ feeling afterward. That will be my biggest goal leading into the weekend.
And with that, I’ll end this journal wishing all of my dear friends here a very Happy New Year. Let us all rejoice in the knowledge that we have yet another chance to make a difference in our own health, lives, and the lives of others. Let’s leave the woodpile higher than we find it and remember the world has enough complainers and doesn’t need another.
Bless you all.
Bella
