's motd Wednesday January 26, 2011 - Jack LaLanne

[Guest guest]

MR. LALANNE

Wednesday, 26 January 2011

Dear Mr. LaLanne. First, I've

got to be honest with you. When I was a teenager, I

couldn't stand you. Now don't get me wrong, it was

nothing personal. Hey, I didn't even know you,

really. But do you know why I "couldn't stand

you"? Well, it's because you were everything I

wasn't.

You were fit...I was fat. You

seemed so happy when you exercised. And me? Oh,

just the idea of exercise caused me to break out in

a sweat...and I don't mean in a good way! You

always talked about healthy eating...but every

healthy food you talked about, I couldn't stand them

either! But I do have to tell you, I did always

like those blue jump suits of yours. Over the

years, I would see you on TV introducing your newest

health products but I never felt a connection with

you or the important lessons you taught.

When I moved to Los Angeles, I had no idea what I

wanted to do, really. I'd lost weight but regular

exercise had not been part of my weight-loss

formula. But I knew exercise had to be a part of

the new life I was beginning. There were so many

exercise studios in Los Angeles and I decided to

take classes at many of them. But when I couldn't

find a place that I thought was really fun, I ended

up opening my own exercise studio, Slimmons!

A few years later, I was lucky

enough to get my own syndicated television show, The

Show. Early on, my producers

asked who I'd want to have as one of my very first

guests. There wasn't even a question in my mind.

It had to be you, Mr. LaLanne! Seems our lives were

now on a parallel course and I really wanted to meet

you.

A few weeks before your appearance, members of the

press asked if you'd ever tuned in to my TV show. I

heard that you thought I was the strangest person

you'd ever seen walking this earth! LOL. But I

didn't mind. I remember so clearly when you walked

onto my set that first time. I knew in an instant

that you and I were going to be the best of

friends.

Now I have to tell you something, Jack. And that

is, you taught me so much! No, I wasn't ready to

hear your message all of those years ago when I was

growing up in New Orleans. But I will say this,

your message has stuck in my mind for all of the

years since, thank goodness.

I spoke to your wonderful wife, Elaine and I want

you to know that she's invited me to speak at your

memorial service. And you can bet that I'll be

there. Oh, I'll have lots to say so everybody had

just better get themselves really comfortable before

I get up to speak! LOL. (And I know you're

laughing, too.)

There's one other thing I want

you to know, Jack and that is...Your wisdom will

continue to guide people for years to come. The

message you started about living a healthy

lifestyle, all of those years ago, is more important

now than ever. You've told us for years that we

needed to exercise regularly. You told us to cut

back on and be careful with the red meat, the sugary

foods, the alcohol and all of the other foods we

knew weren't good for our bodies. You told us to

always have a positive attitude. And you spread

these good and important messages of yours, always

with that quirky sense of humor we loved about you.

So now, Jack, you're in that big health club up in

the sky, helping the angels to fly. I promise to

carry your message until I, myself am 96 years-old

or older and I want you to know...I will miss

you!

Love,