suspended

 I have hit a tipping point in life

    And I am not sure I like it.

    I have been wearing size 38 pants for a few years.  But since last year I have lost about 10 pounds.

    Now that doesn't sound like a lot, but it's enough to cause me a pants problem.

    My 38s are too large.  And 36s are too small.  They don't make a 37.

    For a long time I have been struggling to keep my pants up.  I tighten the belt and that works f r a few hours, the n the pants start to slide down.

    Sometimes if my hands are full they even drop to the floor!  That isn't a problem in t he house, but when carrying out a tub of recyclables at night it is.  Sorry neighbors....hope you were not looking out the window.

    Yesterday I started wearing suspenders.  I went the whole day without my pants dropping down or feeling like they were dropping down.

    I felt liberated and yet am conflicted.

    My belly looks large with suspenders.  Truthfully, even without suspenders it is large.  I feel like a different person, like one of those old guys with big bellies I used to laugh at when I was younger. 

    Time flies.  Next I have to buy white gym shoes.

    Speaking of old guys, I read a really sad story the other day.

    Seems this 79 year old lost his wife and was befriended on line by a female professional wrestler.  They really bonded.  She sent him some small gifts.  Then she asked for money to help pay a hospital bill.

    The man's son lives out of state and was concerned.  When he came to visit his father and ask about the relationship, the son discovered his father had $128,000 left in what was once a $900,000 retirement account.

    He tried to convince his father he was being scammed, but the old guy refused to believe it .  When the son suggested putting the remaining funds in a trust account with monthly payments to his father, the dad threw a fit.

    Now they are estranged.  Dad won't talk to the son.

    Every day people who we think of as smart, aware, alert, and capable fall for scams like this.  Billions of dollars a year is lost that way.

    It's a sad story.  

    But at the same time, we all have to be a little smarter and safer.

    That's why I never accept friend requests on FB unless I can verify the person is real and I do have a connection with them.

Peace and Love