The BIG 'ole #3

The last "aha" I had that summer was taking my son to Texas A&M to get him set up for his first year in college. I was so proud. A&M is where I had always wanted to go and here I was taking my son!!! For those of you who do not live in Texas the summers can be UNBEARABLE with the heat. So here we are in the midst of the Texas summer walking all over the A&M campus. My son was great about it though. He would just ask me now and then if I was ok and he kept his pace with mine which was slower than a turtle. I gripped and complained the whole time which I am sure totally got on his nerves as well. The "aha" moment came when we had a meeting with the Engineering students. We all met up over by Kyle Field which wasn't so bad we had several meetings there during the trip. HOWEVER after the meeting they broke the Engineering School up into their special fields : chemical, electrical etc and we would all go as a group to a different location. Our location WAS COMPLETELY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF CAMPUS!!!!!!!!!! So I not only had to walk all the way across the campus in the heat with my freakin' hip BUT I HAD TO KEEP UP WITH A GROUP OF PEOPLE there would be no going at my own pace. My son kept asking if I was ok and I lied and said that I was but really I thought I was going to die. I am serious. Not only was my hip killing me but the worst of it was my cardio. I thought I was gonna have a heart attack right there and they were going to have to call the peremedics in. I was going to TOTALLY humilate my son!!!! Several times before we made it across campus I really thought I was a gonner but I kept going as best I could. When we finally made it to the other side I was in tears... I am not kidding. My son was worried that I was ok which I wasn't really but had to go in and do the best I could. I was literally dripping sweat and needed oxygen. I sat in that classroom and fanned myself with paperwork and prayed for oxygen. I don't know how loud I was gasping for air but I am sure it was rather loud and it took quite a while for me to get back to normal. After that meeting the students were to stay and meet with their advisors and the parents were free to go. Thank God. I was able to go back across campus at my own pace. I thought I was never going to get back across campus though. I kept having to stop. I don't even remember how many times I had to stop but they were numerous. I called my best friend, Stacy ( previous successful lap bander ), and told her how pathetic I was. It was horrible and pathetic. I KNEW SOMETHING HAD TO BE DONE.... THIS SUMMER WAS SHOUTING IT AT ME!!!!!!!!!!!!