SEPT 10, 2013

WOW, I think I'm becoming the poster child for Murphy's Law.  I'm writing to you from the hospital tonight. I was admitted last night for some infection I can't pronounce or spell.  But I am feeling much better and hoping to get released tomorrow (crossing fingers).

First of all I am by no means finished with my long distance riding, and I still very much want to continue and raise funds for Oklahoma disaster victims.  I've just had numerous kinks thrown in my chain from ever direction.  As I believe you know, we had to return home after my second heat stroke?  The heat followed us back to Indiana.  They had had an unusually cool summer until we got back then the heat just sored.

Then I had some health issues.  They were worried about my heart due to some severe swelling and I had to be hospitalized to get the swelling down and have some tests run.  During this time, when I was released, my riding partner left.  I have to say that really hurt.  I've had so much loss in my life lately to have him just leave.  He didn't say goodbye, didn't speak to me, wouldn't respond to my calls or texts.  It's been, yeah hurtful to say the least.  When you spend a month on the road with someone to have them just walk away back turned.  But I also look back and I feel bad because he honestly busted his butt on the Texas stretch of the ride.  He did pretty much all the hard work and I wouldn't be alive if it weren't for him.  He pulled a trailer with 120lbs of our gear 99% of the way and when we would get to our campsites he would without being asked, unload and set up camp allowing minimal help from me.  I honestly could not ask for a better riding partner,  He spoiled me and for that I thank him from the bottom of my heart.  I won't make that mistake again.  From here on out I am riding solo or I am building two trailers so if I can find another capable riding partner we will be sharing the load equally.

Shawn if you read this, I want to thank you for all your hard work.  Please don't think it went un-noticed or unappreciated.  Thank you for taking such good care of me.  I know I would not have made it half as far as I did without you. I learned so much from you and had you not been there during the heat strokes I never would have survived them.  I owe you my life.  Thank you for making
the ride fun "Ducky", for rescuing me and untangling my leg from the wheel when I found for the second time that I can indeed tip a recumbent!  I wish so much that I could convince you to continue our journey.  There are not many other's I would trust who I think would be even close to as capable as you as a riding partner.  But I understand fully why you wouldn't want to ride with me when I look back.  I promise (for what that's worth) you would not be carrying the full load.  If you don't change your mind, know that I do wish you all the best with working on the cars with your cousin.  Be safe!

It will be still a while before I can set out.  Our landlords informed us that they were losing our home back to the bank so with me in and out of the hospital we have been trying to find a new place to live for the next year.  Hoped to find something in my daughters current school district but there are no rentals available so I'm still unsure where we will end up and I hate moving my daughter after all SHE has been through twice in one year, not to mention it's going to disqualify her from any resident scholarships if we or rather since we are not moving to our new state until her senior year.

Keep in mind we are still grieving the still very new loss of our son and her brother.  I am not by any means emotionally ready to sort through and pack up his room.  It feels like a very final "He's no longer with the family" slap in the face or mac truck running me over.

It goes on!  Derek was laid off for a normal shut down in June but they messed up something at the factory and none of the hourly line workers got any pay, no I take that back, they got a half a weeks pay...for an entire month.  Needless to say we are behind  on everything and deeper in debt.  Slowly catching up on them.  If I go solo this is even more important.  And I need to prepare for my own protection a little bit more strongly before going solo.

Sooooo...I'm crossing my fingers and toes and praying hard to make it back on the road and be in the Smokey's as the leaves change.

Well, signing out from Howard Regional for tonight...

Much Love,
MamaBear45

Yay! I got my laptop fixed!!!

I have a lot to update you on!  I will write more tonight and share a lot of pics too!  Four computers and every single one of them has been down...finally I have my laptop back!!!!  Type at you tonight!