's MOTD Friday May 9, 2008

[Guest guest]

AND HIS NAME IS...LOUIE!

Friday, 09 May 2008

On last year's Cruise To Lose in 2007, I met this wonderful lady from our group who had some weight to lose. But as much as she was concerned about her own weight, she was equally concerned about the weight of her son. She told me that he was quite obese. She was so worried about him but just didn't know what to do about his weight.

I could see how upset she was about her son and we talked about him and his weight at length. She told me that she would try to get him to come along with her on the next Cruise To Lose. And she figured if she could get him to do that much, just come along with her, that I would be able to do the rest by helping him get started.Well, we just finished our 2008 cruise and, wouldn't you know it? She did bring her son along and his name is Louie.

And yes, his mother was right, Louie did have a lot of weight to lose. He and I talked early on into the cruise about the things he would have to do to lose the weight. Louie was such a sweet man. He had the greatest smile and I have to tell you, I really think he listened as I talked to him.

Louie's table in the Normandie Restaurant, where we had all of our meals was right next to mine. No, I had not set it up like that but I have to tell you, I'm glad it worked out that way. As I left my table to take pictures or walk around talking to some of the other cruisers, I'd notice that Louie was making all of the right choices at meal time. Oh, I was so proud of him!And in those Party Off The Pounds exercise classes of ours in the Taj Mahal Theater, oh, you should have seen Louie! He took the same spot during each class, near the front of the theater over near the wall. He was close enough for me to keep an eye on him and boy, was he ever moving. I even brought him on stage with me during one of the numbers and wow...did he ever move with me. Louie was really sweatin', just like he was supposed to!At the end of our cruises, honestly, I think just about everyone deserved an award for all of the hard work they'd put in for the week. But I like to single out a few people each year that really shine during the week. Our awards this year were called You Take The Cake and you know I had to single out my new friend, Louie. He got the "Newcomer" award for 2008. Oh, we just had to give it to him. Because for the whole seven days, he was an inspiration to me and everyone else on the cruise!

Louie was genuinely surprised when I called his name for that award. And when he came up to receive his trophy for working so hard for the week, well, Louie just burst into tears! Through his tears, he managed to thank me and everyone else for making him feel so special that week. And he assured us that all he'd learned during the week, he was taking home with him and that he would continue to work, every bit as hard!I was crying myself before he finished and had to give Louie a big hug after he was finished sharing with us. I'm telling you, it's people like him who inspire all of us and I can't wait to get more good news from him after he returns home.Way to go, Louie!Love,