Thanks Melissa, I too enjoy just "visiting" by hearing of others fortunes
(good and bad) on the List.

Here's hoping for a better next year and future for you.
DH

On Fri, 19 Nov 1999 11:28:25 -0600 "Melissa J. Cullison"
<MelissaC@CAPLAN.COM> writes:
> Hello all
>
>
> Before you read further, if you are offended by personal stories on
> this
> list then DELETE THIS IMMEDIATELY!!!   I'm fed up with the argument
> about
> list content.  I wish it wasn't Friday so I could violate the
> guidelines
> even further.  As it is I'll have to settle for sucking up
> bandwidth.  I'm
> gonna post this and dare anyone to flame me.
>
> We fell in love with Westys by renting one from Roamin Holidays (the
> fine
> business now for sale) in Albuquerque, NM in 1997.  Since then we
> have
> searched high and low for one of our own.
>
> In March of this year I was diagnosed with cancer.  Big surprise,
> Big scare
> Big DEAL.  Despite successful surgery, follow-up chemo was
> prescribed
> because of the size of the tumor and my relatively young (40) age.
> I
> prepared for 6 months of misery.  Into the 2nd horrible month of
> chemo we
> found a van for sale on this list.  It was near enough for us to
> drive to
> and the price was right.  We bought it and placed it on show in our
> driveway to brighten my days every time I looked at it.
>
> We had to purchase about $1100.00 of replacement parts from The Bus
> Depot,
> (fine service, by the way) and because my hubby is so handy he
> replaced the
> exhaust system himself - saving us boocoo bucks.  He worked on it
> over the
> summer - lovingly improving, adjusting, cleaning, tuning the blue
> beast for
> ME - for US - FOR THE FUTURE.  When I had a few hours of feeling
> "marginal"
> I would go out and polish a window - or wash the curtains - or
> vacuum a
> seat - then I would go back to bed.  This van was a summer-long
> project and
> a symbol of our positive attitude.  This van brought more smiles to
> my face
> than anything this past summer.  We would go out a few cool evenings
> and
> just sit in it - reminisce about camping in New Mexico - or share a
> meal at
> the table.  I felt relief imagining fun times to come.
>
> During the summer I wrote for Vanagon/Westy help on this list and
> people
> responded generously.  I felt like I was part of a community - maybe
> a
> van-obsessed community - but great people, great stories and lots of
> advice.  I've enjoyed meeting a few of the listees in my area and
> swapping
> anecdotes.  I get the list in digest mode and I can scroll past
> subjects
> that don't interest me.  I really enjoy the personal stories - I am
> thrilled about Ken's new daughter and I was relieved that Alison was
> OK,
> and sorry that she lost her beloved van.  I enjoyed hearing about
> Bill
> Dummitt's trip to Alaska and all other long vacation yarns.
>
> Chemo is over - follow up exams look good.  My future looks pretty
> darn
> good, and WE"RE GOING CAMPING for the first time next weekend.  I
> have a
> lot to be thankful for this season.  My health, my husband, my van,
> this
> list - to name just a few.
>
> I say don't change it.
>
> Happy Holidays to everyone.  CHERISH your health, your life, your
> loved
> ones.  Next time you ride in your vans, think of me in my blue beast
> "MO"
> (Mobile Oasis in Missouri (MO)) and the joy these machines often
> bring us.
>
> Melissa