�EDITOR'S RAVE�
So here we are with summer well
and truly underway. As I write this
on this first day of Summer, I have
already attended six events and
have another seven to go between now
and the end of September when things
will wind down again somewhat. It’s crazy
to think that I am halfway through my
crazy busy 2018 events calendar.
Getting ready for that first big road trip
of the season is always exciting… Nervewracking,
but exciting. On March 25th, I
kicked off my season with a massive 6,000-
mile road trip that took me across five state
lines to attend five very different events: A
Sisters on the Fly gathering, the Junk Gypsy
Prom, Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Festival,
Stage Coach Country Music Festival and
Pismo Beach Vintage Trailer Rally in
California, so packing for this trip proved
to be quite an interesting challenge!
Having a very big trunk and back seat in
the Hudson solved the problem of where
to put all those extra petticoats, shoes, faux
fur shawls, tiaras and cowgirl boots!
One week before I set off on this
massive road trip, I acquired a new piece
of luggage: a six-pound Pomeranian
Chihuahua cross nine-month old puppy.
Talk about baptism by fire for poor little
Pixie Angel, my new doctor-prescribed
service dog whose designated role it
was to assist me with the side effects of
my Rheumatoid Disease and the nasty
medications I have to take to control it.
Thankfully she held up to the pressure
extremely well and turned out to be the
perfect travelling companion out on
the road and a perfectly well behaved
little girl under a variety of challenging
situations. Surprisingly though, she
was not always welcomed, and we did
encounter something I had never had
to deal with before: anti-service dog
bullying, skepticism, questions about
my “supposed” disability and snarky
comments about her role in my life. I’ve
been pretty open with most people about
my struggles with severe Rheumatoid
Disease and its wide and varied effects
on my life. I don’t expect everyone to
understand the full impact it has had on
my life and functioning, although I’m
happy to explain to anyone who really
wants to know. But I’d rather not have to
justify why I need a service dog to those
who snigger and discriminate, and by law
I don’t have to either. For the many and
unexpected benefits she has brought into
my life, as far as I am concerned she has
more than well and truly earned her place
on the VTM Crew. So, welcome to the team
“Pixie Angel”!
A lot of people have asked me recently
how I plan my road trips and that is a good
question. I guess it kind of feels like
the same way I manage to put together a
whole magazine each issue! I start with
an idea, an outline, and then fill in the
gaps. I look on my map and study which
roads I haven’t travelled yet and work out
what events might be happening along
that route and at what time of year and
kind of plan my itinerary like that. It sounds
vague, but it kind of always comes together
really well! After I have a few “stop points”
planned, I look at Google Maps and work
out how many miles I want to drive on any
given day, and find a town near to that point
on the route. I add in some readers, friends
and a few more events that pop up in the
process and find places to camp and RV
parks along the way to break the journey
up …Boom! I’ve planned a road trip!
Bravery has a lot to do with all that I
do, and a little bit of daring doesn’t
Photo by Dusty Caswell
hurt either. Yes things do sometimes go
wrong, as they do in all aspects of life,
and often despite our best-made plans.
You learn to roll with those delays and
detours and treasure the unexpected
benefits they often provide: the new
friendships formed, the kindness of a
stranger, the change in route that takes
you somewhere spectacular you’d have
otherwise never seen. It all happens for a
reason, I am sure and it has been my many
roadside “perils turned pearls” moments
that have given me the patience to deal
with other disruptions to plans and
ideals that life can throw your way at a
moments notice.
I’ve learned to deal with life’s problems
as they occur, break it down into bitesized
pieces, not sweat the detours and
always look for the silver linings. Because
they are there, out there somewhere.
Out there in that “Oh Wow!” moment
somewhere in the middle of nowhere,
you’ll know what I am talking about.
Enjoy the journey!
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For more of Lisa’s “raves” and photos visit her Blog:
“My Dream Home is Portable” link from the VTM
website at: www.vintagetrailermagazine.com
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