Good News Update!!

Good Morning All!
I have great news to share. I went to the doctor yesterday for my follow up visit and he advised me that my last scan looked great! We'll now move into the true follow up phase of scanning every 3 to 6 months but basically, the cure worked!

Which leads me to my next point. I have learned through this experience that life is much too short to waste even a minute of it. Whatever your interest, whatever your passion, pursue it with all due vigor and make the most of every minute you have on God's beautiful earth! If you've harbored a desire to travel, do so. If you've always wanted to experience the camping lifestyle, do it!

Live like this is the last day of your life, love like you've never done before and dance like nobody's looking! Trust me, when you've stared at the possibility of leaving here, you get a fresh perspective on what's important and what's not.

Most importantly, do all that you can while you can to let those you love know how very much you do and give thanks to the God the Creator EVERY DAY for His Grace and Mercy! We are blessed to be here no matter what the circumstance. I'm actually grateful for having had the opportunity to experience my illness as it has made me a stronger, better, more loving and grateful man that I ever could have become without it!

Here's to life and the opportunity we have to live it!

Well it's good to be back. Sorry for the absence but I've been dealing with some health issues lately and have just not had the energy to do much besides put one foot in front of the other.

Since we're on the subject, I thought I'd take a minute to speak to you about maintenance.
No, not maintenance on your RV, maintenance on something much more valuable, YOU. Speaking from the voice of experience I have learned how very important it is to pay attention to the signals your body is giving you. Get regular checkups. Get involved in your healthcare. Don't just assume that your doctors are mind-readers and know exactly what's going on inside of you by looking down your throat and checking your blood pressure.

I spent years and years assuming that I was bullet proof, only to find that I was quite the contrary. I ignored the warning signs my body was giving me under the false assumption that it would go away like always until one day it did not and I wound up in a two year fight for my life. I've learned that it's a lot easier to fight cancer or any disease when it is detected earlier and without much of the misery that you have to endure to beat it back after it takes hold.

I am one of the lucky ones.
My battle is winnable. Will  yours be? Again, let me restate something that is of extreme importance..... Get Regular Checkups!! TALK to your doctors!! TELL them what you're going through!! DON"T assume they know!!

It's up to YOU to ensure that everyone is on the same page when it comes to your health. You wouldn't ignore a leak in your camper and you shouldn't ignore any warning signs coming from within you. Now I'm not saying that you should run to the doctor with every ache and pain but get familiar with the warning signs of the major diseases and if you see or feel them tell your doctor so that you can be around to read my blogs for many years to come.

I will be here, God willing and the creek don't rise!!

A Handy Pre-Travel Checklist

Many of you use your recreational vehicles year round and others simply pack them away until the warm weather returns. In either case, I've found that the following little checklist saves me a lot of grief prior to leaving out for a glorious time in the campground! Use this to ensure that you're ready to hit the road and you'll have a lot more fun when you get to the campground instead of repairing things when you should be sipping coffee around the fire.

**NOTE**: Whenever you depart from home, gas station, rest area or campsite, take some time to carefully perform these specific checks.

Interior

Lights Off

Antenna Down

Vents, Doors, Drawers closed and secured

Refrigerator/Ice Box Secured with Travel Lock

Loose Items Stored Away or Latched Down

Exterior

Tires Properly Inflated & In Good Condition

Wheel Lug Nuts Tight
Lights – Both Vehicles Brake, Turning, Headlights and Taillights Working Properly

Hoses (drain & fill) Disconnected & stored, Caps Secured

Power Cord Disconnected & Stored

Steps Stowed Away

Stabilizing Jacks Retracted

Access Doors & Hatches Closed & Locked

Propane Bottle Connections Secured & Service Valve Closed

Hitching & Coupling

Hitch Secure

Safety Chains Properly Crossed & Attached

Break-Away Switch Connector Properly Attached

Front Jack Raised

Mirrors Properly Adjusted