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Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Stadium Seating

Last night we went to an Eugene Emerald's baseball game.  My seat happened to be next to a woman who was quite big.  Whenever I find myself in stadium seats or movie theater seats, I'm always so happy to discover that I now fit with room to spare.  I couldn't help notice, however, that the woman next to me was spilling out of her seat.  As the game progressed, she commented about how uncomfortable she was.  I agreed that the seat was not super comfortable, but my discomfort came from the fact that the seat was hard plastic and my not-so-padded behind offerred no cushion between the plastic and my fanny bones.  We chatted a bit during the three-hour game and she mentioned she'd gone bowling that day and taken her dogs for a walk.  I realized at some point that she was seeing me as a thin person and she was very mindful of how large she was.  She wanted me to know that she wasn't lazy.  She'd been exercising, after all.  I wished there was some way to work into the conversation that I used to be fat so she wouldn't feel weird around me, but it didn't come up.

The game was fun.  The Ems won 11-0.  And I got a good reminder of where I came from and where I hope never to return to. 

7 comments:

Ms. M said...

Oh I would've been dying for a way to bring it into the conversation. Its funny because now with this injury I find myself wanting to make sure people know I'm usually active... why the need to justify myself to others I'm not sure.

Who got slaughtered in that 11-0 game?

Cat said...

What an interesting post. I often lately find myself in theaters or whatever and noticing that I don't fill the seat anymore. It's truly such a thrill! Thanks for sharing and congrats on the win!

MandaPanda said...

Wow. I haven't encountered that yet but I don't know if there's ever a way it would "come up" unless the larger person was talking about a diet they're doing or something they're doing to try to lose weight.

Rhonda said...

I feel for her - because she used to be all of us. I wish you could have found an opening to tell her, too.

At the least, I'm glad she sat by you instead of some woman who might have judged her instead of showing her the same understanding and compassion that you did. :)

Lyla said...

I'm sorry she felt so self-conscious-- I've been there and glad not to be there anymore.

Amanda said...

I am with Lyla! I feel sorry for people that are obviously uncomfortable. For the first time in my life I am not. ANd I still have a way to go! I wonder if I would have brought up WLS. I get nervous about sharing that info. Not so much to complete strangers I guess!

PS. I think you are right. I should stay off the scale for a few days. Also. Funny you should say funner. My best friend since I was 13 always called me funner. Still does actually. Holy cow. if you like pickles. Fried ones are fabulous. I haven't had them in quite some time maybe even 2 years. But I couldn't resist!

Manic Pixie Dream Slut said...

I'm incapable of making appropriate small talk. I'd like to say that it's because I'd rather risk the chance that they'll like hearing about my WLS and weight struggles and that it might inspire them rather than them perceive my blathering openness as rudeness.