Yesterday I had lunch with Wendie, (half of the couple who own TFC, where I have taught for almost 30 years).  We meet monthly, always ordering the salad, or the veggies, or leaving off the bread.  We drink water, or coffee and catch up on life.  Yesterday we sat at the bar.  It was happy hour.  It was something we have never done before, but yesterday it just seemed right. We discussed how her father-in-law lived his life, destined to live to 140, eating all the right things and exercising daily.  We discussed my father and how he was the complete and total antithesis.  He gave up exercise of any form, when he was in his 40s and stopped playing softball and baseball.  He smoked cigarettes and ate whatever he was in the mood for, with no regard to how it might effect his sugar, his pressure, his cholesterol or his weight.

My dad, George, died 10 years ago at the age of 83.  Wendie's father-in-law, Howard,  died last week, at the age of 83.  It felt right to sit by the bar and drink our martinis and laugh and ponder life and death.  Funny, when it came time to order food, Wen ordered the house salad, and I the vegetable plate.  Apparently we can only vie so far from our norm/comfort zone.  Decadent would have been if I ordered the veggie burger on a bun with sweet potato fries, but I couldn't and for a moment, I wondered why.

There is no wonder, though.  While Howard was feeling awesome and busy lifting weights and inspiring countless others to become healthy and fit, my dad was huffing oxygen to get from his chair to the bathroom.  While Howard was dancing his ass off at his grandson's bar-mitzvah 8 years ago, my dad was exhausted from getting up to make the blessing over the bread, 10, 13 and 15 years ago at 3 of his grandson's big days.  Sure, they both crossed over at the same age, but their quality of life for so many years prior, was like black and white.  I desperately want to be the one dancing!

So I wake up this morning very, very clear about why I make the choices that I make in my life.  I am clear about why I eat the way I do and why I exercise the way I do.  Quality of life is what I have and what I aspire to continue to have.  As Ron put so well, and Wendie reminded me yesterday, though Howard passed away at 83, he crammed 140 years into those 83 and that's exactly what I want, too and what I wish for all of you.

With that in mind, I am off to make some breakfast and then hit the gym for class.  I will be heading to Barnes and Noble later to pick up the book The China Study, which trainer Bob Harper claims changed his way of life.  Written about 5 years ago, I had not heard of it until yesterday.  You can google it and find out a lot about it, as I did earlier this morning.

Thanks, Carol, for sending the link about the cereal recall.  If any of you have children or friends that hit the Froot Loops or other similar cereals, you will want to pass along this link:

http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/news/20100625/kelloggs-cereal-recall-due-to-odd-smell

A huge congratulations to Michelina (aka Michelle) who had her baby girl this week!!! Welcome Gabriella.

Enjoy your Saturday.   Fill your plate, your head, your heart and your life with quality.  You deserve it!