Saturday, October 10, 2009

So Much to Say


Well friends it has been a hectic week. Aren't they all anymore? This is a picture from my trip of me and my folks. I heart my parents. There is so much to tell you about I am not sure where to begin.
First of all, my trip was so fun. I did lots of shopping and laughing and visiting and eating. It was exhausting. And then I got home and hit the ground running and I have been running ever since. My double workout today made me really tired. I see a nap in my future.
So, I must go back and talk more about the traveling aspect of the trip. For years now I have heard of fat discrimination. I am sure it happens to people all the time and it is real but I, myself, never thought I experienced it. When I was at my heaviest I never felt cheated out of anything based on my weight. But I had an experience on the way home that made me reconsider.
Every time I travel through the Detroit airport (McNamara Terminal) it is soooo busy. I wait in long lines at the kiosks and security. Everyone does. It is a super busy, nice airport. On Monday (my return trip) the folks dropped me off and I wheeled my bags inside and went to a kiosk (I had printed my ticket at home but needed to check in luggage). I was approached by a lovely woman who told me there were problems with the kiosks and she escorted me to a line. I realized that this line only had 5 people in it while every other line had a minimum of 30 people. I thought it was strange and when I looked up I was in the Elite passenger (First Class) line. So I turned around and started to wheel my way through the ropes when the lady says "Where are you going?" I replied, "This is for first class passengers and I am not first class." to which she responds "Honey, I put you there. You are in the right line, now go back." As much as I love waiting in lines, I decided to follow her instructions. Thanks lady.
Then I moved on to the security check point which is about 50 people deep. Right before I enter, a security monitor steps in front of the area to block me from entering. He told me to walk to another security point all the way at the end of the building. People, all I saw was the Westin hotel. Because I am obedient (at least in places where you can easily be arrested), I walked that way and through the Westin hotel (which is swanky for an airport hotel). Guess what? It has it's own private security entrance to the terminals and NO LINE!!!
All I am saying regards to fat discrimination is this: I have been traveling through this airport forever and this is the first time I have been treated like this. Things like this did not happen when I was heavier. It maybe a coincidence but it did make me think.
On the suckier side of travel, on the way out of town my flight was delayed about 6 hours and ruined my dinner plans that evening but I recovered (with a little alcohol). Also a bit of advice, when you lose a lot of weight, change your driver's license photo. The security guy laughed at mine and said "If you lost 100 pounds, it REALLY changed the way you look." I told him I would take that as a compliment and moved on. It was also an issue when I had to go to a bank up there. It takes a bit of explaining for people to believe me.
Since I have babbled on so long, I will post more tomorrow. Now I shall read your blog. Enjoy your weekend!

11 comments:

kaitlin said...

I'm from Michigan, too! But now I live in Colorado. Glad to hear you had a fun trip home to visit the fam. =) Very interesting about the Detroit airport, I never knew the hotel had it's own security checkpoint, that's crazy!!!

M said...

I am SOOOO happy you had a great time!! I knew you would :)

I was gonna say that I cant believe a security guy would say that to you but I believe it. People say anything these days.

Are you gonna go a new photo done?

Aimee said...

i enjoyed your little story about the airport.

cute pic with the 'rents! :)

wildfluffysheep said...

girl you are gorgeous!
love the picture.

sounds like you had an awesome trip! interesting airport story...

and woot on the compliment. :D

Diane, Fit to the Finish said...

I love that picture of you and your parents. You all look so happy!

And you know what? I experienced those same types of "special treatments" after I lost all my weight. It was almost as if I were a different person in other people's minds. It was, and is still, a strange and a little bit disturbing. You know what I mean.

Take care, and I'm glad you had a great trip!

Crys said...

Look at you! You look AMAZING mommy! My life goes all kinds of insane for 6 weeks and you're power flirting with your goal!!

Thanks for the comment! I'm trying to be okay. Going through counseling but also reclaiming life. I am back to working out with my trainer, back to to weight watchers so hopefully things will progress nicely.

I'm so proud of you!

Unknown said...

That is a nice pic of you and your parents! :) You look so great! :) Thanks for sharing!! :)

Laura said...

I just found your blog, and I am inspired! Great stories and cute picture!

big_mummy said...

honestly my passport picture i look like a serial killer all bloated and horrible with scraped back prison hair and i have thought if i will look different next year when i go abroad lol.

Unknown said...

I have no doubt that what happened at the airport was NOT a coincidence. It's amazing how invisible you can be when you are large.

The Road Curves Ahead said...

I love the photo... you look so great.

I never give much thought to fat discrimination either but that is a very interesting story.