If you think I'm lanky now, I used to be even more sinewy.
They took away a part of me. Not wanting to lose more, I became an even bigger skinflint.
Then they cut out my right eye—what am I now? The unkindest cut of all.
I escaped, but found that while I'd once been swift, I'd lost a second. But I could still be an idol.
Alone, I searched for answers; I only found myself endlessly. It's enough to burn anyone up (a little).
Eventually I found something new, though the ferry ride cost me $1000. But what a wave!
I left the terminal behind. What I did next was very wrong; in my pride, I cannot even speak of it.
I'm afraid I lost my head. But at last I was no longer on the outside.
But forget about all that is behind me. I am with you now, at the end.
What was I at the start of my saga?
What significant changes did I endure?
Word set source: http://www.snopes.com/language/puzzlers/9letters.asp