Hello...I'm new to the board and I was sleeved 5 days ago (11-14-12) im glad I found this thread. Most of my family questioned my decision to have the surgery right before the Holidays because I'd be missing out on all the good food lol. It made me really realize how important "soul food" is to our community. My first day home from the hospital, I came home to my mom cooking fried chicken, roast, fried cabbage, Mac n chesse and rice n gravy...and to wash it all down a nice tall pitcher of Kool aid. I felt like I was on an episode of punked...lol. Was she serious?!?!? So I sat in my room sipping on my protein shake while mourning all the delicious foods that were being prepared. Lol