Another photo I don't want to post

This is me, today, in the fitting room at a local sports store, trying on bathing suits. The suit fits remarkably well - much better than the one I wore out over the last several years - but this is (while it seems ridiculous) a milestone for me for another reason: because I was able to buy a suit that fit me in a store. 

I don't know if stores assume athletes are all under a certain size or what, but I remember being so frustrated and disappointed when I took my older daughter to the same store years ago, trying to find a new suit so I could swim for exercise. The trip was a failure - not only because I had a 1-year-old ducking between my legs and hiding behind mannequins the whole time, but because I ended up leaving empty handed, forced to buy a suit online and hope it fit. 

I did eventually manage to buy a suit online, and it did fit well. It was a size 42. I have no idea what the hell 42 means. 42 what? But, irrespective of confusing (to me, anyway) sizing conventions, the "swimming costume," as my daughters' favorite cartoon family would say, suited me well and has been a faithful companion for 3 years now. It was growing ragged, and with a little fewer lbs on my body I figured I'd give the sports store another try (this time without adventurous toddlers sabotaging the trip). 

So, here is me in the fitting room in a size 38 (whatever that means). I went on to spend way too much money on what, especially after swimming a mile in it, I consider to be a perfect suit, and as an added bonus I'm a faster swimmer now, because I don't have a saggy suit dragging in the water. Or because the suit is magic. I prefer to believe the latter.