The Unbalancing Act Read Online Free PDF

their happy place!  You might as well sit us all down to watch a funny movie and put in Beaches . Why not just show us all a sweet baby bunny and then feed it to a dog? Geez…but anyway, the room inside is light and airy. Beiges and creams with fresh pink roses and lilies on the tables. The couches are soft and there are even little treats set out, cookies and tea. I get it…but watch out for us bulimic gals. We’ll just throw it up anyways, right? That’s what this group is. It is the eating disorder one. I’m so excited about it that I could just puke.
     
    The ladies slowly make their way in and we all sit. You can see the ones who are sizing each other up. I could care less about their sizes; I’m just excited about the cookies. There are iced sugar and chocolate chip oatmeal. I’m in heaven. I can’t imagine what kind of therapy this will be. Maybe we’ll play a team building game and we can toss our cookies!  I immediately grab a napkin and start munching. It’s not a bit awkward until I hear my name being called and I am still chewing.
     
    “Vada Bower?” 
     
    “That’s me,” I say, trying to swallow fast.
     
    “Would you care to introduce yourself and give us a little background?” says a rather concerned-looking counselor who I have not seen before. She has red-rimmed glasses and a blunt hair cut that sits right at chin level. This lady is small but looks like she means business. She looks at me like I’m going to dart to the ladies room as fast as possible and purge. She’s in a stance like she’s ready to catch me if I go flying. I wish she would calm the hell down. Her name tag says Rita, and all I can think of is a marga-Rita…on the rocks with salt. I try to focus.
     
    “My name is Vada, but some people call me Vadie. I have three little boys. I just got here two days ago and everyone’s been so nice. I’m not sure what to say, but I guess I’m just impressed by the whole place. I really like how clean everything is and it’s great to have such beautiful trails and huge trees...”
     
    “Mrs. Bower, I’m glad you are finding your stay here enjoyable, however in this group we are open to hearing more of your personal matters. If you are not ready to share then we will give you a free pass since this is your first session. We find healing to be a group experience. We don’t judge, we only listen and learn from one another. I myself am a recovering anorexic and bulimic, and I still struggle with staying healthy every day. However, it’s a fight I’ve been winning for six years now. Are you ready?  Would you like to share with us your issues?” asks Rita.
     
    All I keep thinking is, RitaRitaBoBitaBananaFanaFoFitaMeMyMoMitaRita. 
     
    “Mrs. Bower?”
     
    “Umm…yes. I have issues. I definitely have issues,” I say.
     
    I decide to take my free pass and they are onto the next girl. She’s a tall, stick-thin, and pretty little thing named Jessalyn who’s got to be about twenty-five or so. She begins to tell her story about how she’s been anorexic since she was thirteen. She started having problems with food after being molested by a sick, disgusting, pervert of a grandfather. She says that keeping that secret has caused her to be obsessed with being in control of her body. As I listen to this poor girl go into detail about her daily routine of avoiding anything to do with food, it makes me sad. She goes on about becoming socially withdrawn and has isolated herself from friends and family. I mean this poor girl. What an awful way to live.
     
    I cannot relate to what Jessalyn has been through, but I think I understand her. The group continues and I hear other numerous stories from these ladies who all have reasons for hacking twenty times a day, or not eating at all, and some of them even both. Each one of them is an eye opener for me. The truth to my story is not as dramatic. The truth to my story is this:
     
    One day this winter, I got into all the kids leftover