“When we least expect it, life sets us a challenge to test our courage and willingness to change; at such a moment, there is no point in pretending that nothing has happened or in saying that we are not yet ready. The challenge will not wait. Life does not look back. A week is more than enough time for us to decide whether or not to accept our destiny.” ― Paulo Coelho, The Devil and Miss Prym

Life is one of those things we all have to live it one day at a time. We never really know when one of those crazy "life events" will occur. For @scottf and me, it has been happening a lot since that New Year's Eve day this year. You see, I had an Ocular Stroke and everything has completely changed for me. Granted, this was not in the main part of my brain, but it was in my eye and had caused some pretty challenging issues for me. Between all the doctor appointments, the hospital stay, and a few issues stroke victims deal with on a daily basis, my health has impacted us on a major scale. However, we have done our best to make sure that it we still do the things we love to do to help make it all livable.

This is one of our original photos.

We were concerned, at first, about traveling because the strokes are not going to go away, they are something that will be a part of my life for the rest of my life. They have found that I have too many red blood cells and this causes my blood to be thick which puts me at risk for many health issues. Because of this I suffer extreme headaches, dizziness, and just don't feel well; this situation is what caused the stroke and could cause more of them and heart events. There is plenty of testing going on to figure out why my body is producing so many red blood cells, but until we are able to figure this out there is one procedure that I will be having to have done for quite some time. I will be doing what is called phlebotomy. Basically, it is the medieval practice called "blood letting." This is the medical practice of removing of blood for therapeutic purposes. It is not bad, as long as there are no leeches involved.

This procedure has to happen every four to six weeks until my red blood cell levels go down to where they should be. It is not a difficult procedure, I just go to the local blood institute and they take the blood as if I were donating it. Unfortunately, until they know exactly what is causing the issue, I am not able to donate the blood. It is not painful except when the first put the needle into the arm; the only issue I seem to have from it is I am exhausted for a couple of days.

This is one of our original photos.

Other than the health issues, we have had some family issues as well. We were living as Texas State Park Hosts and planning to move to our second park when my father contacted with me with some very upsetting news. He had been diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis.

Pulmonary fibrosis is a condition in which the tissue deep in your lungs becomes scarred over time. This tissue gets thick and stiff. That makes it hard for you to catch your breath, and your blood may not get enough oxygen.

From the Medline Plus article "Pulmonary Fibrosis."

Because he was in the last stages, Mom needed us home to help. We had really not planned to move back to Tulsa, but here we are. My father passed away on March 26, and even though we knew about it, it still hit us all pretty hard. My father taught me many things but the one thing he said that really hit me hard was to not give up on my dreams. He said there were things he wished he would have done and he didn't want to see me give up on mine. Like many other people, I had a wonderful father and will miss him greatly.

We had decided not travel as hard while my father was here and Mom needed help, but it is time for us start thinking about getting back to the travel life. However, now that we lived in a house, did not have the RV any longer, and have quite a bit more debt we need to make some changes. We have been given a challenge by life, yet again, so it is time to start making plans. One of those was for us to tighten the belt unrealistically and get debt free. Because of this, the dream of cross county across the country travel was looking impossible for quite a while. It was depressing and overwhelming.

This is one of our original photos.

One of the things we have discussed was me finding a "real" fulltime job, but I have had a real issue getting anyone to interview me, much less look at my resume. Because I have been happy to sit at home with the amazing hammock sleeping Cordie and work on nothing but Steem and our website I have not thought twice about working outside of home, but something changed on the afternoon of my father's memorial. The people Scott works for called him and asked if I would like to give the dispatch job a try. Without thinking about it, he and I decided this would be a good thing to help me be distracted from grief and to bring in a paycheck. I like to think that Daddy walked up to the Big Guy himself and told Him I needed a break.

THIS WAS A HUGE OPPORTUNITY FOR US!

With this position, I will be making enough money that we will be debt free this time next year and hopefully getting money saved up so we can either purchase some land, RV, or school bus. This means Mom and my children will have time to decide what their next move is over the next year. We are finally seeing the light at the end of the long tunnel; our dream is starting to reveal itself again.

This photo is one of our own.

Yes, this will be a challenge for us. Working a fulltime job will be difficult for me because I have not worked one of those in a long time and my health issues will cause a few challenges but my employers are extremely understanding and supportive. I am also finding the whole keeping our Steem activity on the same level difficult, but I have a great crew on the @heyhaveyamet curation account and on the Steem Termial Discord server. I couldn't even think about doing this without @brittandjosie, @thekittygirl, @brisby, @derekrichardson, @wesphilbin, @medro-martin, and @jamerussell.

Click the banner to to go the Steem Terminal

There are many challenges ahead for us, but Life does not stop or slow down for anyone. We have to be willing to decide to accept our destiny."

This photo is one of our own.

@heyhaveyamet
Thank you @medro-martin for this artwork!

Thank you @penderis for this artwork!

Thank you @enginewitty for this artwork!

Thank you @medro-martin for this artwork!

Click the banner to to go the Steem Terminal

So so so beautiful and you know it. I hope one day i can experience living life. You look like @merej99

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brittandjosie (71) · 5 years ago

This was a rough ride dear and a downward one with a lot off greef but you are doing great 👍 I love your vibrant energy when it comes to ideas and your hands on mentality , Scott and your new employer will be flag , stay safe and tell me if you need anything !
Love from Holland
And a hug for Scott

$0.21

7 votes

xcountytravelers (65) · 5 years ago

It has been a really rough four months, but we are going to make it. We have a plan and we will get through it all. I just need to adjust to working again.
Ren

$0.00

jamerussell (58) · 5 years ago

We're right here, @xcountytravelers!

That is one of the things I love about this community. Friends are always near by.

cityofstars (65) · 5 years ago

Always here to support

$0.34

1 vote

surpassinggoogle (76) · 5 years ago

Oh, thank you so much. Life is for living and it took me too much time to figure that out.

I think you are right! I wonder if @mrej99 are related.

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killerwhale (63) · 5 years ago

Nom nom...nom?

Nom?

tryskele (64) · 5 years ago

Glad to hear you guys are doing better. I was going to ask when you had mentioned about starting a new job. I was excited and saddened for you. That it keeps you grounded for a bit longer and that you found a job. It is such a chore to find work over 40, hell over 50. To me I have felt like a second class citizen. Too old for one group, too young for another and not wanted by any decent employer.

I know you guys will still find a way for your little getaways, I don't think you could stay stationary for too long.

We want to pay off our debt and this job helps us do that. It will take about a year and then we can start saving for our next move. I am hoping we can decide what we want to do. It could be a skoolie, land/tiny house, RV, or just trick out a van and move into a house then travel wherever we are near.

I'm not sad, just overwhelmed a bit. It takes time but it is worth the wait.

Up For The Challenge

THIS WAS A HUGE OPPORTUNITY FOR US!