Report from Durham

July 29, 2000

Hey everyone: I'm enjoying 's posts about her trip for

surgery. If you get the impression that we all become family, you're

right and this weekend proved that for me!

Thurs: Amy and I met at Reagan National Airport in DC for our trip

to Durham. We were both starving (ok, so we don't look like we're

starving) so we got in line to get a snack while waiting to board the

plane. We had quite a discussion at the pastry counter about how we

couldn't eat a whole pastry and what kind we would get and split in

half. We settled on the pastry (which was actually processed rubber)

but not until we noticed that the lady in front of us (who looked

like she could have used a trip to Durham if you get the drift) kind

of gave us funny looks. It was that " har har, these two fat broads

can't eat a whole danish..rrriiiiight! " look. Then we were on our

way!

We got in our seats after being issued goggles and a scarf. (We flew

Midway. That's the airline where after they crash you're required to

return your seat cushions, which are used for flotation devices, to

their main office one week after crash in dry condition). The seats

were two across so we got to sit together. After all, who else will

let you have half of your butt on their seat but another MGB-er. Then

I became really mortified. Amy got so tickled that we fit in the seat

and that the seatbelt reached around us that she began to announce to

the plane that the two painfully thin passengers in 13A and C FIT DO

YOU HEAR ME, FIT, in the seat. I ducked down a lot in the seat and

tried to pretend I did not know Amy. However, Amy looks like she

could belong to me so it was hard to pretend I don't know her.

We arrived in Durham. (Valmaboyz) and Trish were there to pick

up Amy while I had to have my sister come and get me because they

wouldn't let me ride with them. Something about they don't like

painfully thin people. We decided to visit Judi from Florida at Duke

Towers. We went to Durham by way of ville, Florida.

apparently received too much testosterone somehow and wouldn't ask

for directions until we got to Atlanta. My sister Dot (who is much

much older than I) believed that was trying to lose her because

made 407 U turns in driveways. I can neither confirm nor deny

that information since all of us were lost and since Trish knew where

to go but she was on her cell phone the whole time getting directions

on how to get to Grand Rapids, Michigan.

We met Judi and her wonderful husband Carl and we laughed and laughed

and told jokes about things only MGB-ers would talk about or laugh

about. I won't go into detail about the conversation but let me just

suggest that those of you coming to the picnic in Sept. will be

required to choose which team you will be on..the Green Slimes or the

Orange Team. If you qualify to play on both teams you will be

disqualifed...that would be just too disgusting. Then , my

sister Dot (she's much much much older than I am and if you saw us

you would know that), Trish, Amy and Lori (who was visiting Judi)and

I went for lunch.

They must have known we were coming and they banged shut as we pulled

in the parking lot so we had to go elsewhere to eat. I dunno, maybe

they got a look at us and figured they'd lose money on their buffet

if they let us in. We went to the food court in the mall and got our

lunch. Unfortunately, Lori ate all of her lunch and everyone else's

lunch too. Somebody forgot to tell Lori that she now should have a

decreased appetite. Unfortunately also, Trish and felt

compelled to deposit their lunch in the ladies room at the same place

where we had purchased it. Hmmmmm so dumping can have other

meanings....

Then my sister and I went to the hospital to see any MGB-ers that

might be there and to visit Kandy. Kandy was on the phone while we

were there so we never got to meet her. But we stopped in to see

and her 16-year old daughter and 's wonderful husband.

He drove , her daughter and her cousin up from SC for surgery.

is not on this list and it was great to meet her.

Friday: At 10 a.m. , Trish, Amy, my much much older sister Dot

and I met at a scrapbooking and stamping store. We did a little

shopping and then went for lunch at a place called Zest. We only made

one wrong turn this time. is really learning her way around by

now. This place had food to die for. We had a long lunch with a lot

of laughs. We split up again and went our separate ways but not for

long. At 6 p.m. we met with Theresa from Raleigh, Amy, my much much

older sister Dot, Trish and me at a Japanese restaurant. We purchased

enough food to feed Lori, I mean to feed all 700 plus MGB'ers

combined. Then , Trish and Amy went shopping and due to my

sister's advanced years, we went home. We saw 's before pics.

WOW! is one sharp looking lady. It was so neat to see her

before pictures...let's just say this baby has come a long ways!!

Saturday was support group. What a hoot. Everyone introduced

themselves. Except Dr. R. He didn't have to introduce himself. We all

knew him. And we all love him! He answered lots of questions for us.

We also met lots of post ops who have lost phenomenal amounts of

weight.

I was sitting there wondering what it must be like for Dr. R to look

around the room at all our faces and to know that he has saved our

lives and has changed our lives forever. He takes our love and

admiration in stride. His memory is incredibe. He remembers our

names. He remembers so much about us. He makes each of us feel

important. We are not just numbers or cases to him. I suspect he

views us as family...he certainly treats us like family. I have many

feelings for many people who have crossed my path during these 57

years but I feel gratitude to no other human being in quite the way I

feel it for Dr. R. And there are hundreds more who feel as I do!

Amy and I had been flip flopping on how much we want to weigh. We

started out saying we'd be happy with 220, then 200, and we just

couldn't quite decide. A post op named Tammy was there. She had on a

cute dress and a cute hat and wow..what a knock out kinda gal she

was! She passed around her before pictures. OMYGAWD! She was asked

how much she weighed now and she said 179. Amy and I just looked at

each other and said...179! If she could look like that...179 is good

enough for us! So our motto is now 179 or bust!

It was so much fun to put faces to names. It was much fun to meet

everyone and the fun was just beginning..we adjourned to 's

during a monsoon. Undaunted by the rain, we ate and talked and

laughed until my face hurt. We arrived at 5 and didn't leave until

after nine!

Post 2 will give you the dirt on who was there!

Painfully Thin Flo reporting from Durham

July 29, 2000