Thinking good thoughts....

[vanillafluffy]

Tue Dec 15, 9:56 pm ET
LOS ANGELES – Fitness pioneer Jack LaLanne is recovering from heart valve surgery at his home in Morro Bay.

LaLanne's publicist, Ariel Hankin, said Tuesday that the 95-year-old underwent the procedure at a Los Angeles hospital on Dec. 8.

Hankin says that before the surgery LaLanne told his family that dying would wreck his image.

The weightlifting guru is doing fine and expected to make a full recovery.

He became famous for his physique and for outrageous stunts, such as towing boats while swimming across Long Beach Harbor handcuffed. He became a household name by hosting an exercise show on television from 1951-85.

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My initial thought on seeing the headline was, wow, is he still around?! Because I remember my mom watching him on TV before I started school---we're talking at least 45 years. I thought he was ancient at the time, but doing the math, he would only have been a few years older than I am now. Ahh, perspective!

Best wishes for a speedy recovery, Mr. LaLanne. May you live long(er) and prosper!

Comments

[pwcorgigirl.livejournal.com]

I knew he was still around but wasn't sure how old he was. Because my brother was handicapped by a bone disease that kept him from walking from ages 3-6, we spent a lot of time watching daytime TV when we were little, and I never missed his show when I was four years old. If anyone is going to breeze past 100 in style, it'll be Jack. :)

[vanillafluffy.livejournal.com]

I'm with you---the guy has his own brand of cool. (Where do I get some of that?!) The only person of great age I've known personally has been Kat's mom, who is still chugging along at 96---with the aid of a cane, and minus a few marbles. I love that Jack has the wit to quip that dying would ruin his image.

[pwcorgigirl.livejournal.com]

My mother's dad lived to be two months short of 102 and her older sister is now 94. Papa never lost his marbles but did finally become physically frail in the last year of his life. He obviously had great genes, but he attributed his longevity to eating a lot of home-grown vegetables and drinking a big glass of cold water first thing every morning. I'd have to pass on chugging the water on an empty stomach, so I reckon I'm doomed to a more normal lifespan. :D

[karaokegal.livejournal.com]

Definitely best wishes! I knew he was still around cause he does juicer infomercials and usually some amazing stunt on his birthday every year.

[socialhermit.livejournal.com]

I, too, grew up watching Jack LaLanne on TV. Still remember the tight-fitting striped shirt he wore, too.