meeting Jack LaLanne
A few weeks ago I heard that Jack LaLanne was going to be in Chattanooga on Feb. 6, kicking off Memorial Hospital’s Heart Week events. I immediately made arrangements to cover the event (Chattanooga is only about 100 miles from home) and was offered the chance to interview Jack.
I’ll say more about the event in a future post, but the short report is that Jack LaLanne is a fun guy to talk to and a great motivator. When I walked in and was introduced to him and his wife, Elaine, by the event’s organizers, he shook my hand and said, "The sex goddess is here!" I said, "Oh, so they told you about me." Best way to cope with a kidder is to kid right back.
He was a fun interview and didn’t need any prodding. His hosts from Memorial came by about 10 minutes till 2 p.m. and said, "Jack, are you ready to go now?" He said, "No. We’re still talking." Probably very frustrating to his hosts–but fun for me.
Here’s this 90-year-old guy wearing a black jumpsuit (his trademark), a black leather jacket, and some very cool-looking shades. He works out two hours every day, never eats anything refined, and looks like he’s 70–but the fittest 70-something you’ve ever seen.
Elaine is about to turn 80, and she began the public performance by putting on a Pointer Sisters tune and getting the audience to move around. She looks great too and was hard to photograph because she was in constant motion. We should all be so lucky.
In any case, they were a lively pair. More later.
Thanks to the folks at Memorial Hospital for being so kind, welcoming, and accommodating to me.
February 7th, 2005 at 10:31 am
I used to watch Jack LaLanne as a child - while eating a carton of ice cream. I liked his enthusiasm and always thought he was a neat guy.
But c’mon . . . Elaine LaLanne?