I got friends in loooooow places......

and they are getting lower everyday!

(On the scale, that is.......)

One of the best rewards of Gen giving me my SOB coming out party.....other than the fact that it was all about me.....has been that I have been able to reconnect with the Lapbanded world---a wonderful world of new banders, seasoned banders, soon-to-be banders and gee-I'm-thinking-of-being-banded banders in such a personal, intimate and touching way.
It's truly been a gift.
It's been a continual reminder of what this wonderful tool can do to transform people's lives--in more ways that just helping us to lose weight.
Although I have always had the faith....my faith is renewed with each message I receive.
There's not a day that goes by that I am not *this close* to tears hearing from someone who is celebrating their success, declaring their band love or sharing their story.
Each and every email and/or comment is important.
It gives a glimpse into what the world is like for those of us who have waged a war on obesity.
Just as importantly, it has provided me with a way to give back in more ways than I can count.
And not just giving back to the band friends who write to me.
Case in point---my little bit older cousin....who I will call Rico. Because that's sorta his name.
Rico is one of those big burly guys--always has been.
A big Italian guy who was raised in the same food-obsessed, food-is-love, food maniac family as I was.
For the most part, he always managed to keep the pasta, the beer, the wine, the sausage, the hoagies and the chicken wings at bay with sports.
Then with his contracting business--where he did manual labor to build houses.
Until his knees gave out from a combination of hockey and brick laying.
Then, he couldn't keep anything at bay.
Especially the weight.
And, he was having trouble walking.
And working.
And living life.
That's where I come in.
We'd run into each other at family functions or out at restaurants or around town.
He would always notice my weight loss.
He'd ask a few questions. He'd say he wished he could do it too.
I'd give him my speel.....it was the best thing I ever did, call me, I'll give you the name of my surgeon....
He never called.
Until last week.
When he was turned down for knee surgery.....because he was morbidly obese.
Naturally, he was frustrated.
And scared.
And just a wee bit apprehensive.....yeah, Judi, but, ah....will I really lose the weight?

That's where you come in.....

Sure, I could tell Rico my story--the one I told all of you during my SOB coming out party.
But, he's already heard that one.
And, since he is not blind--he could see that it worked for me.
But, now, I had more.
More stories.
More people just like him.
More people just like me.
I had all of you to tell him about.
There's power in numbers.
Big power.
When we hung up the phone that day--I was sure he was going to call the surgeon.
But, he didn't.....
Nope.
When I called him the other day--he sheepishly told me that he did not have time.
After all, the Penguins are in the playoffs.....
The guy needed to hear another story.
I had just the one to tell him.
It's a story about a guy I'll call Jacko. Because that's sorta his name.
Jacko has been lurking our blogs.
And, he has been doing it since December 2008.
142 pounds ago.
I hadn't heard from him in quite some time.
I just figured he went away or maybe he just got sick of all the girl talk.
But, when I became an SOB......he emailed me a congratulatory note.
He didn't say he was sick of all the girl talk.
He's much too nice for that.
But, what he did say----in his funny Jacko way--

I never thought I could do it, I never thought I would do it,
and I never thought I could get so low.

So, I told Rico Jacko's story.
Then I told him I'd get a contract out on him to break his knees if he didn't call the surgeon in 48 hours (I gave him extra time due to the Penguin game).....
And, he knew I was serious......
And he knew I could do it
BECAUSE......
Oh, yeah, I got friends in low places.......