Northern North Carolina, October 24, 2010~

Tom Whitt here.  Sorry I haven't written in a while; been busy continuing my trek across the country to raise people's awarenesss of multiple sclerosis and its affects on the human body, and for people to give to a good cause: the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

I should know.  I have MS.  I can walk, but my balance is shaky at best, so I use a pair of crutches (or, for longer trips, my car or wheelchair).  Sometimes I fall, but that's okay.  As long as I can get back up, then I'm doing good. :)

I am currently in northern North Carolina, headed towards Virginia.  It's been a long, hard road since I left my home back in Phoenix, Arizona, earlier in the year.  I'm just glad I'm not alone in this: my beautiful wife, Clarabelle, and our two sons, Paul-Jacques (5) and Mikey (7), have joined me as well, except they stay in the van, while I do my thing.  They have come with me in case I run into trouble.

The good Lord is also guiding me.  I think that's helped a lot.  If it wasn't for His grace or mercy, I wouldn't be here, and I am still plugging away to the best of my ability.  There have been bumps in the road (illness, flat tires on the van, rocks being thrown at me by rude teenagers, bad weather, etc.), but I will not stop my attempts to walk across this great nation of ours and raise awarness of just how serious MS and its affects can be!

There might be some bad weather later this week. Hope not; if there is, then we just stay put in the van and wait it out.  Same applies if my body tries to revolt against me, be it shin splints, cramps, nausea, diarrhea, some kind of bug or virus.  When I'm sick, I then sleep and try to recover from whatever is attacking my body.

So far, other than a few instances mentioned above, my walk has been successful.  People have been more than kind, giving me money to help the MS Society find a cure (or possibly more improved treatments), and they have been very supportive of my cause, which I greatly appreciate.  I thank God for his putting this on my heart.

It's something I have wanted to do for a while, and now that I am fulfulling my dream, I am doing quite well for myself.  I continue to keep tabs on my company, and so far, they are thriving too, but I know they miss me as much as I miss them.  For Christmas, I plan on giving them a nice bonus check; they deserve it!  They are great workers, and I am more than happy to be their boss!

How many companies can say that in today's bad economy? Not too many, I'm afraid: too many companies have downsized or clsoed altogether, and the majority have forgotten to be loyal to their employees, thinking of nothing but themselves and their pocketbooks. 

We are an exception, and I plan on keeping it that way.

Anyway, back to my story.  Who knows where I will be later this week.  My goal is Washington DC next.  I would like to talk to the current president about what I am doing and why I am so passionate about it.  I also plan on speaking to him about government cuts to social services and the detrimental effect it is having on so many elderly, disabled, and poor people, and why they depend on these services so much.

Hopefully I can put a bug in his ear and get him to do something ...

So far, I have been disappointed in our current president.  Maybe I, a guy with a visible disability, can make him see exactly what is going on; it's worth a shot, y'know??

Well, I am going to go.  Church and breakfast later, but for now, I plan on catching a few extra hours of sleep; it's way too early for me to be up.  I just wanted to let you know that I am still on my trek and that things are (for the most part) going as planned.

Don't know when I will write again, but that's okay.  I am on a mission, and I won't rest until it is completed.  Take care, and may God bless you! This is Tom Whitt saying so long for now!

~Tom. 

*To be continued.*