THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY

One day, I was contacted by Stephanie Bernhagen, author of Take Back Your Life: Travel Full-time in an RV, and Jamie Hall, author of Support Your RV Lifestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road. Both women, along with their husbands, are full-time RVers who, in addition to their individual books, are the creators of an informative website for RVers called RV Hometown. Stephanie and Jaimie asked if they could post on their website my story "Your RV: A Vehicle of Hope," which appears in the Escapees book Rocking Chair Rebels. Of course, I was delighted to honor their request.

In addition, Jaimie informed me that she and another full-timer, Alice Zyetz, were compiling a book of tales by women on the road and invited me to submit some stories. The result of their efforts, RV Traveling Tales: Women's Journeys on the Open Road, is a delightful and touching look into the very souls of the women who have contributed stories of their adventures, mishaps, growth, joys and sorrows. I am so very proud to be a part of such a wonderful work. Be prepared to experience a roller coaster of emotions as you snuggle up with this book and a hot cup of tea.

My main contribution to the book is titled "Twists and Turns in the Road." In it, I share how our journey as RVers unfolded in ways we never imagined and brought unexpected changes. Much of the material is covered in About Carol and Larry on our website. My second contribution is a short piece entitled "Christmas on the Road," which relates how we delighted in picking up little gifts for our grandchildren as we traveled. As well as tokens of our love, they were a way to share some of our adventure.

I encourage you to purchase RV Traveling Tales: Women's Journeys on the Open Road, whether or not you are an RVer. The theme of the stories revolves around RVing, but their essence is of the human heart. If you are an RVer and have not yet discovered RV Hometown, check it out as well.

The real blessing in all this is that these RV sisters have reached out to me with wide open hearts and were a great encouragement as I struggled to finish and publish Vehicles of Hope. Had it not been for their timely support, I might have given up.

With deep appreciation, Carol Tebo