My Story

This website was initially built to promote my two books—Tight Lines & Good Selling and Bumps, Potholes & Opportunities. Inspired by a life-altering medical diagnosis that occurred while I was putting the finishing touches on Bumps…, this site will now promote my books AND provide resources, visibility, and encouragement to those dealing with mobility issues and challenging circumstances.

I used to travel and spent a lot of time in hotel rooms over the years due to my work, and it’s not as glamorous as it’s made out to be. Regardless of the location or hotel brand, I found myself surrounded and accompanied by four walls, a bed, a window, a bathroom and a TV. The novelty of traveling wore off quickly (at least for me) and I wanted to do something more productive with my time other than mindlessly watching television at night while I was on the road. I was soon bitten by the bug to write a book, so I started jotting ideas down on paper and in my laptop.

Motivation to write also struck from a deep-rooted source—my dad was a college professor who authored several textbooks. The combination of restlessness and the age-old inspiration of “wanting to be like dad” drove me to begin writing Tight Lines and Good Selling. Soon after the release of Tight Lines…, I couldn’t shake the idea of creating Bumps, Potholes & Opportunities.

During the final stages of putting together Bumps…, I experienced something that drastically changed my perspective on things and how I travel through life. I was almost finished writing a book about dealing with life’s challenges when I was slapped in the face by a challenge of my own.

Over the past few years, I noticed that my stride had shortened and my balance was not great. I experienced a few slow-motion falls. My family had been telling me to get things checked out by a physician, but…like most men…I kept putting it off. Well, after a series of blood tests, multiple MRI’s, and consultations with a number of physicians, I was diagnosed with hereditary spastic paraparesis (HSP). This rare genetic disease is basically a disconnect between my brain and my legs, causing my legs, hips and balance to be affected. Instead of running 5K’s, triathlons, hiking through the woods to my favorite hunting or fishing sites…or even walking my dog or bounding down a set of stairs...I now shuffle and stumble around like an ancient man and “furniture surf” my way around the house. I carry a cane for balance and self-defense (I sure can’t out-run any trouble now 😊). When I walk, I need to consciously tell myself to pick up my feet, lengthen my stride, lift my knees and step straight forward to minimize “swinging” and rotating my legs around my torso. Since my stride is altered, I overcompensate and use muscles that aren’t normally used. Walking causes my lower back to tighten. It’s exhausting. Walking should be a natural activity. A person shouldn’t have to purposely think about the mechanics of walking when moving from one place to another. I do now.

(Please know that I am in no way complaining, looking for sympathy or feeling sorry for myself. It is what it is, and I am extremely blessed.)

Since HSP is so rare, there isn’t an abundance of resources. The statistics are even in question. Some research states that it is diagnosed in approximately .02% of the overall population. Another source says that there are an estimated 10,000 to 20,000 total individuals diagnosed in the United States. Dr. Google states that 0.1 to 9.6 instances occur in every 100,000 people around the world. All that I know is that it is extremely rare, has no quick fix or cure, and there is not a lot of easily available information to assist people with this condition.

That’s where this website comes into play. As I mentioned earlier, this site was initially built to help promote my two books—Tight Lines & Good Selling and Bumps, Potholes & Opportunities. While it would still be great if you purchased them, the other—and more important—purpose of this site is now to shed light on HSP and other motion/mobility issues while offering encouragement and positivity for anyone facing challenging circumstances.

My aim has never been to gain recognition or seek a pat on the back. Instead, it’s a simple desire to extend a helping hand to others searching for progress and hope…regardless of the specifics of their situation.