Thanksgiving and Meeting RUBY

Hello Strangers

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family. I think for me Thanksgiving is not only hard for me eating wise but it also brings up wonderful past memories of people in my life that are no longer here. My mother has been gone for 6 1/2 years and my grandmother 10 years. Growing up I could remember waking up to the smell of homemade cinnamon rolls made with left over homemade pie crust and homemade pumpkin and lemon pies. Isnt it funny how some foods you connect with family members? If something happened to me and you asked my family and friends I dont think they would remember me or connect me with any kind of food...lol Well maybe mexican???
I havent wrote in so long and so much has happened. Mark and I took a weekend off to go to Dallas to see "Ruby"...who is Ruby??? Ruby Gettinger has a reality show on the Style Network and her new season should begin late January or February. I really wanted to meet her as I feel a connection with her (we both weigh the same) but this woman started weighing in at 700 lbs and is now in her 300's. Im so happy for her. I bought her book which is basically a journal of things you see in the past 2 seasons of her show and she gives you a background of her everday struggle. I had heard that she was going to be at the 1st annual Plus Size Teen contest...so I thought hey that's an excuse to go to Dallas. I used to live in Dallas and miss it very much. I did arrive at the hotel extra early hoping to catch a glimpse of her and sure enough I walk into the lobby and there are signs everywhere letting people know that they are filming a TV show and they may be on tape. I walked down a hall way and there waiting to get on the elevator was Ruby but I only saw the backside and wasnt for sure it was her. As I passed by her and looked back sure enough it was her. Mark and I sat across from the elevator and was talking for about 10 minutes and Ruby got off the elevator and I said "Ruby can I get a Pic with you" I know this sounds fanish but I didnt care. Ruby is everything that she is on TV...she was extremly nice and wanted to know Mark and I's names and thanked us for coming up and supporting the "girls" in the Plus size competition. I had written her a letter and told her about my struggle with weight over the years and basically gave her a letter of support. I took 2 pictures with her it was like talking to a instant friend that I will probably never meet or talk to again. You know how you meet people for the first time and you know you have an instant connection....that is how it felt for me. Ruby asked if we for sure were going to be there that night and I said yes. I ended up loving the Plus Size Teen Contest...it was wonderful !!! They dont support being overweight but living a active life style and it does so much for the girls that came from across the United States to compete. Some where very talented and I picked the winner who I had watched rehearse her drama speech as her talent competition. The young girl had asked me to watch and critique her presentation which I was happy to give her some small pointers....lol How did she know I was a theatrical star in high school and college?? LOL I heard her tell her friends that "the nice Lady helped her".....Nice Lady made me sound old....I guess I was old compared to the competition.
Before the show Ruby came in and was talking to other people and saw Mark and I and started talking to us over about 5 rows of people...I understood her to say "Congrats on the 90 lbs thats wonderful" and she said a couple of other things but I dont read lips to well...so I have no idea what else she said to us. Mark and I signed a release and was told to watch the 2nd or 3rd show of the season...I look forward to seeing the show. It was a wonderful trip. Tomorrow I will tell you about our near death experience on the highway back from Dallas to Tulsa. Hope everyone is healthy and look forward to sharing life and start shrinking some more. Gotta to weigh in this morning. Have a wonderful Saturday and GO POKES....I want OSU to beat OU (love OU too) but husband and friend Lisa both graduated from OSU...so go Big Orange.