Summer of Bean

I discussed the Summer of Bean with a friend last night.  She didnt know I’m a blogger, and it probably wasn’t really that relevant.  The point of the conversation was how despite all your plans, sometimes life can take you in new and wonderful directions.  That’s what’s happened to me in the last six weeks.  It’s been spectacular beyond my dreams.  As awesome as things are becoming though, I can’t help but get wistful for the Summer that could have been.  The one I’d planned so dilligently.  Or thought I had.

I’ve lived so much of my life thinking “if only”.  If only I won the $250 million lottery, everything would be alright.  Heck, if only I won the $1,000/week Win for Life, I’d be set.  If only I’d lose the weight, everything would be different.  I walked around DAILY with this attitude.  I kept waiting for some bolt of lightning to come in and change my life.  The thing is, it never does.  I mean there’s a reason they quote the odds of something happening against the odds of being struck by lightning (1 in 700,000, according to NOAA).

But because I started walking down this path in July, I feel like I’ve won every lottery on the planet.  I feel that fortunate.  If you would have told me on Day One of The Summer of Bean that I wouldn’t accomplish a single item on my list, but instead I’d be down 35 pounds (and still falling) and on my way to home ownership, I would have said you were nuts.  But given the choice between the two, I would have taken door #2 every day of the week.

Well, here I am.  Noticably thinner and on my way to owning my own place.  What a weird freaking world, no?

From the day I began this weight loss thing, I’ve targeted three co-workers in my office as my judges.  I’ll know I’m on the right path when one of them says something.  None of them has yet.  But you know what, that’s alright.  Betty with Sunglasses sees it.  Other friends too.  Good things are happening.  Hopefully I can keep it up.  For now though, I’m just doing it one day at a time.

As for the homeownership.  I got a collection call from one of my credit card companies back in December.  Those calls have been more or less a part of my life for several years now.  I finally decided to get that under control and start paying attention to the relationship between my paychecks and the calendar.  It didn’t hurt that my car was finally paid off and I had extra disposable income.  But by slowly accumulating several months in a row of good behavior, my credit score finally got to the point where I could qualify for a modest house.  Holy crap!  Now I have to figure out where to move.

So the Summer of Bean begins to wind down starting today.  I noticed the leaves are beginning to fall off a tree in the front yard.  This project hasn’t been what I’d hoped for back in May.  But that’s fine.  I’m so much more thankful for what I have.

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