motd Friday March 2, 2012

[Guest guest]

FRIENDS FOR A

LIFETIME

Friday, 02 March 2012

Did I tell you? I had my own awards show to

attend last Sunday on the same day as The

ceremonies. The award was being presented to yours

truly, me,

in honor and memory of a great friend of mine. That

good friend paved the path for this crazy little kid

from New Orleans who became so passionate about his

own good health and that of others. Yes indeed, Jack

LaLanne made

being fit not only smart but...cool!

I was presented with the Jack

LaLanne Lifetime Achievement Award.

I was presented with the Jack

LaLanne Lifetime Achievement Award last Sunday

in Pasadena, California. The award was presented at

the annual meeting of the California Association for

Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance

Teachers. I know that's a long title but, hey, these

wondeful educators do

a lot. They

play such an important role in helping America's kids

become more active and fit! (And you know how

important that is to me.)

But right now, I want to talk some more about my good

friend, Jack LaLanne.

I first met Jack when I was doing The

Show back in the

80's. From Jane Fonda, to The

Biggest Loser, to ME, we should all give credit

to Jack LaLanne for making exercise, well, like I said

before, cool!

I can still remember seeing my mother doing

jumping jacks with Jack while watching his morning

exercise show on our old black & white TV set back

in New Orleans. I didn't join my mother in her

workouts back then but, little did I know, I was

watching my

own future as

I saw her work up a sweat working out with Jack!

Elaine LaLanne was a

delight when I met her all of those years ago and

she's as much a delight today.

When Jack came on my show, 30 years ago, he also had

his lovely wife Elaine with

him. And you know what? She's

still lovely! In fact, I was

honored being presented the Jack LaLanne Lifetime

Achievement Award by his wife. Elaine was a delight

when I met her all of those years ago and she's as

much a delight today. She carries on Jack's

tradition, traveling the country, teaching people

about the importance of good health, exercise and...longevity.

She's in her 80's now and, I've gotta tell you,

Elaine's still full of energy...I just love her!

After presenting my beautiful award to me, I thanked

her and told Elaine how much she and Jack meant to

me. The two of us led the crowd in a little workout

number before she turned the stage over to me. What

fun we had!

I'm honored by my award and

to have friends of a lifetime like Jack and Elaine

LaLanne.

I'm honored by my award but every bit as honored to

have had friends of a lifetime like Jack and Elaine

LaLanne. And, I promise you Jack, I'm gonna keep

right on teaching America and the rest of the world

how important it is to exercise and take good care of

those amazing bodies God has given each of us. Thank You for teaching

us the importance of exercise, my good friend. It was

an important lesson, one that will last us, well, A

LIFETIME!

Love,