Val is TERRIFIC

This is the first chance I've had to post since returning from my visit with Val. For those of you who haven't met her, she is even more wonderful in person than on the boards. I have never been made to feel more welcome and at home in my life. And Mike and Marianne are just as cool as Val. The only way I could make the trip to Maine to visit Val was to fly Southwest Airlines - my neice works for them and I can fly for free. The downside to this is that the closest I could get to Val was Manchester, NH. Val told me that it was a 4 hour drive to Manchester from her house - that is til the morning I left and she told me it was really a six hour drive. These wonderful people drove 12 hours roundtrip to pick me up at the airport - we didn't get back to their house til 1 AM Sunday. Now, that is wanting someone to visit you. And then Wednesday, Mike had to make the return journey to take me back to the airport. We had a wonderful time, sitting in Val's living room, sipping on coffee or protein drinks or sitting in her backyard reading and visiting. It is lovely up there - a little remote for me to want to live there permanently but what a grand place to visit. The weather was delightful - in the 30s or 40s at night and in the 70s or low 80s in the afternoons. I can't remember when I last slept with a window open - you just don't do that in the middle of Dallas. Val was having a flare up with her back so we kept it simple - not a lot of running around - but that's ok. I was so burned out from working six and seven days a week for the last month, that I really enjoyed the downtime. It just ended too soon. I have often told my surgeon that the one side-effect or benefit from weight loss surgery that I didn't expect was the wonderful friends I have made. I can't emphasize that enough now - actully meeting Val and spending time with her was so neat - and worth the 15 hours in planes, airports and cars to get there. Patty

I can't believe I wrote the above post logged in under one of my HTML profile names. Patty

Hey Patty, So glad you had a nice relaxing time visiting with Val. Sometimes we need to just take time out, and spend quality time doing nothing but enjoying the company of a dear friend. How wonderful it was that you could experience this. I too have met quite a few friends, via this surgery and these message boards, and I hope they are lifetime friends, as I cherish each one of them. Wendy

Hi Wendy Awwww, we love you too, g/f!! Did you have a baseball game tonight? If so, how did you all do? Does Rob get to come home this weekend? Hope to see you Wed or Fri next week for lunch!! This is my short workweek coming up (yea!!) Eileen

Hey girly, Yep, had 2 games last night, we lost, but had fun, great exercise.. feeling it this morning already lol. Nope, Robert still isn't home, maybe some time next week?? I booked a flight for Monday, but its not looking good. Yippee for short weeks, gonna do my best to make lunch this week!! Have a great weekend Love ya Wendy

Glad you had a great time! I can't believe you actually made it in six hours--it used to take us longer from Portland. I was in Bston and NH at the same time as you were up there--it was really great weather!

Hi Patty, I had the pleasure of meeting Val last year and you are right, she IS terrific! Glad you had such a nice, relaxing vacation!! Eileen

O Gee.... I thought you were speaking of me ! VAL bariatric101.com

Dearest Patty, I have to tell you it was a wonderful weekend for us to, I so enjoyed our visit.. and we will have to do it again, so start saving your vacation time... lolol...... hopefully next time, I will be on my feet.... Mike and Marianne enjoyed you so much too, oh and Kelly and Princess, loved your spoiling.. We have a freeze warning out tonight, so the windows are closed tonight, but will be opened first thing in the morning.. So you think we are a little remote out here do ya, lol. I am just glad you had the time to sit back and relax you really needed it.... Hope to see you again soon, Love you Bunches, and Thank You... Me

LOL, Can you ALL tell SHE was in this room last...... lolol