I am so thankful

I was just thinking back to a few days before the end of my drive in California. Shown here is my trusty 1971 Volkswagen Westfalia in Carpinteria, just south of Santa Barbara. The night before taking this photograph, I’d stayed with VW friend, Judith, whom I’d met two years before in March 2010 on my first VW road trip.

The YesWeCan CamperVan in Carpinteria, California, towards the end of phase 2 of the MG Awareness drive; start date 20 October 2011 from Provincetown, MA, end date 15 May 2012 in Corona, CA, total distance 7853 miles

On that first trip I soon realized that my VW was my new friend who would introduce me to many more new friends. I also realized that my precious VW gave me the opportunity to start conversations with strangers, and the question quickly became what was it that I wanted to start a conversation about? Was there something important that I could talk about and that would be of interest or benefit to others, I wondered.

At the end of 2010, one year after the start of that first road trip, I was sure I’d found the topic, and another year on as I set off on my second cross country drive, I was pleased I’d chosen MG (Myasthenia Gravis). It would be the focus of my communications on auto-immune diseases and neuro-muscular ones in particular.

Seven months and over 7,500 miles later, at the end of my day in Carpinteria pictured above, I’d felt very fortunate that my VW had transported me safely on another momentous journey. On this trip, unlike the first, we’d had three major repairs before finally a new engine was built and fitted in Los Angeles. However every single time, help was on hand. It was miraculous how I was supported and helped along the way.

In the first instance, when the clutch started slipping and it was apparent it needed replacing, the Full Moon Bus Club’s South Carolina Coastal Group offered to fit a new clutch at their Thanksgivin’ Misgivin’ weekend campout just north of Charleston. Not only did they work on this repair all weekend for free, but Wolfsburg West stepped up and sent a new clutch free of charge and by overnight courier all the way from California to the VW campout’s organiser before we even arrived.

Two weeks later in Alabaster, Alabama, the accelerator cable broke in the middle of a busy traffic intersection as I was driving behind Staci (an MG patient who had been my wonderful host and helper) to accompany her in a Christmas Parade. On that occasion, Bill and Carol from Sylacauga had answered the distress message sent out on the VW network by my ‘support man’ Ken (back in Massachusetts) and they then drove one hour from home to meet me and fix my VW (after which they insisted I have my motor checked and hosted me for a few days while it was).

Two and a half weeks after that, as I was driving one early morning in a remote part of Texas, the fan belt shredded!!!! No sooner had I stopped on the side of the highway, we were joined by the nicest state trooper I’ve ever met. It was a very cold morning and I already had a sore throat and temperature, so he had me keep warm in his car, offered me his phone to call Hagerty for my breakdown service (my mobile had no signal) and stayed with me until my VW was on the tow truck an hour later.

It occurred to me at times such as those mentioned above that my VW bus is a perfect metaphor for a person with a chronic disease like MG. For example, all of us classic VW owners know (and mostly have come to accept) that our vehicles do not move as fast as high performance models, that they lose their balance around sharp bends, and that they often fight to get up hills. We also know that on a good day or when there’s far less resistance, the engine can run much stronger and livelier … and that during those times we can let out a loud sigh of relief or maybe we smile gently to ourselves, knowing that our faith has been restored and the struggle to keep going was definitely worth it.

We also know that during those ups, we might go a little crazy and do too many miles, and that, while it’s good while it lasts, chances are we’ll be pretty tired and plain old worn out later on.

As time goes by, we also learn that life in the slow lane can have its merits, like being far more appreciative of the good times and the fleeting moments of running free without bounds. Most of all we learn that living in the present moment is all there is, and with that, comes a joy all of its own.

So driving an old VW with it’s foibles and surprises, can really be a pretty good metaphor for what it’s like to have a chronic disease and to be steering one’s body through all the challenges that get thrown up along the way.  And the thing is, VWs just keep going and going if they are looked after and treated gently. Also one good example seen out and about on the road can be an inspiration to another, and waves and toots indicate that we share a common language.

For me, my VW has also been the friend who helped me find the very best of friends: those with whom I have a special understanding and with whom I can laugh and cry; those who have similar values and who give without expecting anything in return; and those who realize that trust and loyalty are the most precious of gems.

Boy oh boy … when I look at my old VW campervan, I really do have a great deal to be thankful for, don’t I?  🙂

The VW Family

Look at the tabs above the header and van picture and you will see a new page added today called Family. On it I write:

“This page is a later addition because before owning a VW and making this road trip, I would never have known the beauty and wonderment of the VW camper family. I include in the word family all those people with and without VW campers who love these magical vehicles.

And I use the word family because everyone I met shared the same values of simplicity, generosity, humor and respect for each other and our earth …. read all and see more photos here >>

I’m hoping this addition will encourage you to comment  ….. and subscribe to this blog, so you can receive automatic updates by email when I make changes.

P.S.  I wrote about Family values in an earlier post here: Family values – VW style

Many more photos taken by Carole Brown are shown on our FAMILY PAGE

Writing to say THANKS

I haven’t been blogging for ages, so this is a short note to let you know that the plan is to write more on these pages in the coming weeks and to finish the whole story before the end of the year.

I will complete the missing details on weeks 22-26 of our 30 week trip (on the ROUTE page) and add stories about the cross country run from California to Massachusetts which completed our trip (for 2010,that is) but right now I am more energized to say THANKS  to the very special people I met on the road.

So today I started to update the THANKS page that you can see in the tabs across the top.  I also tweeked the ROUTE and VW Van Pages, so if you’ve not checked them for a while, you might enjoy taking a look.

Later I hope to reflect on the highlights of the journey that had me and my little van driving 10,000 miles and spending 6 months on the road. I want to see if I can find the words to express what made the trip such a wonderful adventure and such a happy experience.  Til then …. take care and treat each moment as a precious gift.
Thank you for being out there.

Week 1, Day 0: 14 December – Boston > Oregon

(written by Carole Brown on her way to meet The YesWeCan CamperVan)

What a day!

Starting with a long and arduous flight from Boston to Portland, Oregon, on Monday 14th December, I was beginning to wonder if this road trip was a good idea after all. I’d been on the phone with American Airlines earlier in the day and also after I’d arrived in Portland, to ask about flying to Medford instead of taking the overnight Greyhound Bus. I wasn’t looking forward to an overnight 7 hour bus journey and was all caught up in the thought of that. Plus it was dark and raining in Portland and I was very tired. It was already past midnight Boston time and there were hours still to go.

But then everything changed on meeting Darlene, a lady who was sitting quietly at the airport in Portland waiting for her ‘graveyard’ shift to start that night. On hearing my sigh as I flopped down into a seat next to her, she looked me in the eye and asked “Did you pray this morning?”.

In that moment, I was brought back to the present and time stood still. In an instant my worries and exhaustion were put on hold and my heart opened up to appreciate how lucky I was to be making this journey. I returned her gaze and thanked her. “That is exactly what I needed to hear” I said, as I packed up my bags and asked her name. I knew it was an important moment.

I went down to the ticket machines for the train to downtown Portland where I was to take the 11.45pm bus to Medford. My $50 bill was too large and the ticket price too small for a credit card. I needed another 75c for my ticket. A lady asked me if I needed help and gave me the extra coins! I never got her name.

I pulled my two cases along the train platform and boarded the train as fast as I could as it was now only just over one hour before my bus left downtown. Three young men got onto the train and I asked them where to change for the Greyhound Bus station. They gave me clear directions and I settled down in my seat. Minutes passed and we waited for the train to leave, but we waited some more, and then some more. I was beginning to realize that the time to get to the bus station was getting to be very close to the time remaining. And what if the second train was a long time coming, I would then miss my bus for sure. On approaching the change point, I asked the three young men if I should travel closer into town on this train and maybe get a taxi. “We’re getting off where you change. I’ll ask the driver if the next train is close behind.” While his two friends helped me with my cases, he ran to the front of the train to ask the driver. “it’s OK, there’s one right behind. We’ll wait with you until it arrives”. After a few minutes of waiting on the cold rainy platform, and no sign of the train, I was beginning to panic slightly at the thought of spending a night at the bus station. I was now praying every few minutes.

The guys were talking quietly to each other. “OK! We’re going to drive you to the Greyhound Bus so you can make your 11.45 departure” and with that they whisked away my cases and I ran behind to their car parked in the station car park. As we drove to downtown Portland, I could see almost nothing in the blackness of such a rainy night, yet I heard about the city. That it is the 7th most intelligent in the USA, that a recent study showed it has the highest incidence of depressive illness in the country, and that the recession has hit it harder than most. And that these three guys played together as a band and would not have been coming back on the train at that time if their night had gone to plan, but their recording session had been postponed.

Within minutes I was at the Greyhound Bus station. The guys carried my bags, waited while I purchased my ticket and even took me to the gate. We hugged goodbye and I thanked them for their kindness. We exchanged email contact info and I asked them to join my Facebook page to follow my journey. I couldn’t thank them enough. I got their names – Devin, Flip and Grafton. I’ve yet to get the name of their band, so please watch this space for more about them and their music!

As I boarded the bus and we drove into the night, I heard Darlene’s words about prayer. My prayers on the train had been answered so well and so quickly that I was dazed. I had a strong feeling I was on the right track after all and the sense of trust, that had come to me in October when I’d bought the VW camper van, had been restored once more.

Overnight from Portland to Medford, Oregon