The Day I Met Richard Simmons

Richard Simmons bounded onto the stage at the lady’s show with the same energy he seemed to approach everything else. I wasn’t there to see him, but enjoyed watching him lead more than 100 people of all ages through a series of exercises as pulsing music blared.

I’d grown up with my overweight mother “rolling around on the floor,” she called it, watching Richard Simmons’ daily exercise show. Richard showed ‘before’ photos of him massively overweight and then lifted his shirt to show the stretch marks that remained after his transformative weight loss.

Simmons ended each episode of his syndicated program with positive affirmations encouraging viewers to keep working hard to be healthy.

Mom kept working hard, rolling around on the floor with Richard every day until she lost the weight and kept it off for many years.

Around the same time I was watching Richard’s exercise program, I also watched David Letterman’s first foray into daily television with a morning show that barely lasted the summer. I was such a fan of Letterman that I wrote a letter and received an autographed photo that hung on my wall for decades.

Over the years, Richard made many appearances on Letterman’s different shows, despite Letterman’s relentless mockery of Richard’s sparkly exercise outfits and larger than life personality.

Watching Richard’s exuberance at the event, I recalled the tank tops and short shorts he wore on Letterman, while Letterman and the audience laughed at him. Letterman’s cynicism made it impossible for him to comprehend the honesty of Richard’s boundless enthusiasm.

Richard ended with a supportive message for the crowd and then left the stage to sign autographs and greet fans.

I was struck by the compassion and sincerity with which he met each new well-wisher. I felt remorse and shame at the way Letterman treated a clearly kind, considerate, and thoughtful man. When he wasn’t on stage, he seemed shy and soft-spoken.

As the crowd dissipated, I shared with Richard the impact he had on my mom’s weight loss and health and asked if he’d be willing to speak with her on the phone. He readily agreed and signed autographs for others while I dialed her number.

Reaching her answering machine, Richard generously left a message, congratulating her for successfully controlling her weight and encouraging her to maintain healthy habits.

As he returned my phone, I remarked on his gracious and gentle nature.