HIDDEN TRUTHS REVEALED - PART 3

At that moment I was determined to make a change. So on January 1, 1971, decided to lose weight--or in other words, the start of my downward spiral into hell. (Mom had gone back to work after a 15-year hiatus and was not aware of the mistakes her daughter was to make.) Daily fare consisted of ½ grapefruit for breakfast, ½ cheese sandwich or a small box of raisins for lunch, and a well-balanced dinner with the first two weeks having no dessert (a major accomplishment for a sugar addict). Didn’t really exercise except some calisthenics, whatever was done in PE class, and walking to and from school. Stopped hanging with friends during lunch breaks and gradually stopped socializing (didn’t want to be around anything involving food). Lost at least 25 pounds within a relatively short period of time (not surprising since I ate very little). Although proud of my accomplishment, I became a recluse and unsociable; pretty much a loner who studied hard. Television was still the main focus of entertainment up through high school graduation.

Hated school and during my junior year had enough credits to graduate. Had no plans to attend college and wanted to become a legal secretary. Took Advanced Typing, Shorthand, Bookkeeping, Creative Writing, and Business Law and finally achieved the one goal that had alluded me throughout high school--making straight As.

During that year had difficulty with my heels and put padding in the back of each shoe. A few months before graduation saw an orthopedic surgeon who diagnosed my problem as “pump bumps” (bone spurs) and operated on the right heel two months before graduation. Although off the crutches by graduation, it was painful limping down the stairway of the university sports complex to get my diploma and should have stayed down on ground level with another disabled graduate. A week later had an operation on the left heel.

While in bed recuperating, received a phone call from John, a long-time church friend who happened to be a court reporter. He was going to be working in District Court for Judge Sanchez who was appointed by Governor King, and the judge needed a secretary. After I had recovered and was off the crutches, had an interview and the job was mine (wish jobs would fall into my lap now). So there I was on my first day, a 16-year-old high school graduate working for a 61-year-old judge. The rest of our group consisted of Tony, the bailiff, a sweet man around 60 who had very poor vision, and, of course, John (my mom’s age) and the reason I had the one job that is still my favorite to this day.

(to be continued)