About

Paul is a retired Civil Engineer. But retirement gave him time to become involved with the Internet and the many aspects of this wondrous new media. He continues to work on SMARTERyellowpages.com, and on this website. Kathleen is a retired civil rights worker, nun, and teacher; and a very active grandmother and superb role model.

After completing her cross-country bicycle ride (www.bike70th.com) in 1999 (to celebrate her 70th birthday!), Kathleen lured Paul into considering traveling together in more enjoyable accommodations. We considered traveling in our van and staying in hotels, but discarded that idea. We studied Class B motor homes, and decided they were too small and too expensive. In early 2003 we subscribed to Motorhome magazine at a local RV show where Paul read about a Class C motorhome that looked too good to be true. We traveled from the Bay Area to take a look at the Lazy Daze factory, and that was all we needed! We ordered our LD in February 2003 and on October 16, 2003 we became the proud owners of “Jerry Too” (because she named her bicycle “Jerry”).

Kathleen’s mother’s nickname is Jerry and regardless of where they were going, Jerry would be ready in a second for a trip – any trip – anytime and anywhere – she always had a bag packed for a quick getaway. She loved to travel. She died at 87, but she’s been “with us” on many of our day trips to Yosemite, Big Sur and other favorite junkets. It just seemed right to name our home on wheels, Jerry Too – because we feel she’ll be along with us, on all our travels, too! We named our Foretravel, Jerry Two Too Jerry’s given name is Geraldine – note that the Foretravel we bought sight unseen has a big “G” on both sides! Pretty scary, eh?

We are the happy parents of six beautiful offspring. Kitty (the eldest) and Jamie have 4 children – Jesse, Parker, Caroline, and Ellen. Christina and Chet have 2 children, Catie and Becky. Paul Jr and Miriam have 2 children, Paul David III and Juliana. Michelle and Slade have 4 boys – Cody, Graham, Sebastian, and Zane. Joe lives in the San Francisco Bay Area and is not married. John (our baby) is not married and lives in Tennessee. We continue to learn about our 12 grandchildren AND 6 children, and continue to be amazed and impressed by all. We had no idea of the journey we started on back in 1959, and are humbled and amazed by our good fortune. At the end of the day we don’t really know how or why but just have to say, “Not bad for two dumb kids from Ohio.”

Our kids are very encouraging in our decision to our RVing.

We realize that life is not a dress rehearsal and we need to “sieze” the opportunity to honor the 30 happy years of marriage we have enjoyed (30 out of 47 ain’t bad , and to celebrate the good health we’ve been blessed with. One of these days we’ll grow old and may not be able to RV very often … when that day arrives, we can stay in our little apartment with happy memories of places visited, experiences shared and friends we’ve met. For we truly believe that life is a journey, and we intend to enjoy the ride! In July of 2005 we sold our beloved Lazy Daze and went to the “dark side” and bought a Class A diesel pusher – a 1997 36 ft Foretravel U295, Jerry, Two, Too (not Jerry Tu-Tu). For whatever ride we have left in us we wanted more creature comforts. No slideouts but we’re really enjoying it.

Paul was diagnosed with acute, advanced prostate cancer in 2005. Radiation treatments were administered and he has been on Lupron injections every three months ever since. His last Lupron treatment was given this past January and there will be no more Lupron injections for at least 6 months when his PSA will be checked again. If the number is low, he will not have any more Lupron injections until and unless the 6-month PSA checks show an increase in his PSA numbers.

In January of 2008 we found out that he now has cancer of the bladder and he has recently begun chemo treatments every week for six weeks. After the last of his 6 week treatments he’ll have a month before they will do another biopsy to determine if the treatments are working. We have plan A, B and C in place for whatever results will be found.

The cancer situation is not something either of us feels is a fearful situation. We have enjoyed 48 years of marriage, have 6 terrific “children”, fantastic sons-in-law and daughter-in-law, our 12 grandchildren are our pride and joy, and we greet every day with thanksgiving and optimism.

For 47 years of our marriage, neither of us has had any medical problems whatever, so these little bumps in the road don’t worry us.

Even before Paul found out he has prostate cancer, he developed his mantra: “Remember that we ALL live under a sentence of death, where young or old every moment is more precious than the last. So use your moments wisely, positively, and with gratitude that you have the great gift of freedom to choose how.”

In the unlikely event we ever have tombstones, we’d like this on them:

“Not bad for two dumb kids from Ohio”