It’s Valentine’s Day 2013 and love and chocolate are in the air.

Love is defined as an intense feeling of deep affection.  I love my husband, I love my daughter, I love my Grandkids.  I love my country.  I love the Pacific Ocean.  I love my Lap Band.

Is that weird?  Can we love inanimate objects?  Well, it doesn’t matter because whether we can or not- I do.  I LOVE my Lap Band.  Let me count the ways:

• I love thee to the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach, climbing off that stepstool after getting down that box of Girl Scout cookies and handing it to my husband to “dispose of” as he sees fit
• I love thee to the level of every day’s most quiet need for satisfying protein
• I love thee freely, as men strive for right together we strive for success
• I love thee with the breath, smiles, tears of all my new found life for you have been instrumental in my ability to reclaim my life.
• With most of 9 years past, I shall but love thee better each day.

OK, silly?  Maybe.  Authentic?  Perhaps.  I am grateful each and every day for my Lap Band, the company (and all those employed) that developed it, the surgeon who implanted it and all of the people who I have met on this amazing journey to health and well being with the implanting of a “simple medical device”.

On this Valentine’s Day 2013 I send you all my love - “an intense feeling of deep affection”

Now, on to the chocolate.  If you love berries and dark chocolate I have found the PERFECT treat for you this Valentine’s Day.  Get a basket of giant strawberries……..nope that’s not it.  Chobani has a new series of “snack size” Greek yogurts that pack a lot of taste punch for 100 calories and 8 grams of protein.  My Valentine’s gift to all of you for whom I have an intense feeling of deep affection is the Raspberry with dark chocolate bits.  It is a little bit of heaven, so use a tiny spoon and savor each bite as you indulge yourself. 

Happy Valentine’s Day and Good Health to ALL!