Dear ,

[Guest guest]

It's funny, but you should enjoy your Thanksgiving dinner just fine.

The thing you will enjoy most is not gorging yourself. You will

probably laugh when you take a small spoonful of everything at

dinner and haven't tested all day while cooking, and find yourself

satisfied. At Denny's, I order from the kid's menu. People who do

not know about my surgery, laugh at my " boldness " to do what they

have always wanted to do. I get the " thanksgiving " dinner...a slice

of turkey and a side (sometimes two sides, but then there are

leftovers). It totally satisfies me. My friends have told me they

have always wanted to order that way but where afraid people would

laugh! HUH!? We are so conditioned to think that we need to

eat " ADULT " sized portions of food that we gained weight over the

years. So on Thanksgivimg, enjoy! On birthdays, enjoy! Fourth of

July, ENJOY....but most of all, enjoy the fact that a small amount

of that food fills you up! That is the true satisfaction you should

be seeking. Personally I'm looking forward to a bite of hot dog, a

bite of potato salad, and lots of good family fun on the fourth,

however, if the mood suits me, I might not even want any of that and

will be happy with something more sensible...but that is only

because I really do not crave junk very often. When I do, I

endulge....just a bite or two. This surgery was never a death

sentence....it was a pardon on a life about to die very soon without

help. We took the kids to famous Daves BBQ last weekend, there were

twelve of us adults there for Randy's birthday. We ordered two trash

can lids of food (Their specialty...a variety of stuff that feeds 4-

5 people) and enjoyed as everyone ate their fill, so did Randy and

I... our own personal fill. The bill was super high, but Randy

enjoyed his family time, the kids each took three containers of food

home for lunches, and we made memories. Oh yeah...the cake...we used

to buy a quarter sheet cake, this year...? A one layer 8 inch

round cake!!! And it lasted three days (the kids and family all had

some, and forgot about taking the three remaining pieces so Randy

and I splurged!)! Now that is living! So sweet , get some

sleep, enjoy a bit of cammomile tea, make list after list of things

to pack.... shop for your after surgery groceries....broth, jello,

flavored water, tea, stuff to enjoy. Buy some fuzzy slippers....you

deserve nothing but the best! And dream of those beautiful days when

food will not be all there is to life. Hugs!

Sue from Palmdale