The train trip to DC was really quick (I think because we slept much of the way) and we had an adventurous (read that: we were lost) taxi ride to the 4H camp near Upper Marlboro, MD, where the festival was happening. Once we were there and settled, the people were so friendly and easygoing. Monica commented on what beautiful skin the longtime raw-fooders all seemed to have. I spoke fairly early so we could just enjoy the rest of the day listening to other speakers and checking out vendors.

We were in an open field and it was very, very hot and sunny, but umbrellas helped (we’d brought them for rain; there wasn’t any) and my favorite part of the day was a talk by my friend and mentor, Philip McCluskey.

Philip was 400 pounds by his late twenties and was all set for gastric bypass when something inside him told him not to do it. He heard about raw food and just started to do it: no rules, no counting calories or carbs or anything, and no restricting fruit or nuts or whatever—just eating anything he wanted in whatever quantity he wanted as long as it was vegan and not cooked. When people asked why he was eating this way, he said, “My doctor told me to.” Once or twice when someone asked, “Who’s your doctor?” he replied, “Me.” In a year, he lost 100 pounds. 

The second year, he added exercise and did a lengthy juice fast (he calls it a juice feast) and lost another 100 pounds. He’s been raw 3 1/2 years now, all the excess weight is gone, and he’s a  very articulate, attractive young man who was featured on the TV Show The Doctors. Here’s what he said that I absolutely loved: “Read everything and learn everything, but don’t be a follower of anybody. Listen to yourself.”

That means so much to me. Each of us really is the ultimate expert about ourselves. Of course we want to be educated so we can make rational decisions, but to come to the point of trusting ourselves despite the conflicting opinions of the experts in any field is such a joy. In fact, the day this happens in any life, it’s a watershed experience. There was “before”—looking out for information and affirmation—and “after”—knowing that the buck really does stop here, and that’s a good thing. 

A sad note: Adair learned that Paycheck, the senior dog she and Nick were going to adopt, passed away on Saturday. They’ll adopt another dog who needs a home, of course, and maybe Paycheck just needed some extra love from people who wanted to give her a home, and from all of you who read Friday’s post, left your lovely comments, and sent this elder puppy your good thoughts.