I Don't Know...

...what I think, until I read what I wrote.

Dear Fellow Hikers,

I’m stuck. Yup… that confirms it, now I know that I’m stuck. And now that I know that, and since I’m writing this… I’m thinking that the best way to get unstuck is to start writing. Again, Yup… more confirmation that the title above is one of my better writing practices. The more I write, then read what I wrote, the more traction I seem to get. And that makes for a lot less time spent spinning my wheels in the mud, and more time for moving forward! Sorry for this little peek at the innards of my often muddy mind, but just my way of saying I think I’m back! Anyway, enough of that…

It feels good to get back at the keyboard and reach out to you folks. It’s been awhile since we’ve connected and this past year has been quite an adventure. Some of you that I see now and then might know what I’m talking about. But I’m guessing that most of you don’t know what’s been going on. So my main objective today is to share a few of my more significant experiences and try to give you a better idea of what my story looks like these days.

First of all, a follow-up to my Bum Wheel letters. It’s been almost a year, it’s mostly well healed, in fact very well healed! But I still have some work to do before I start running marathons again. (yes, a joke).

Next, I’ve been headed down this path for some time now, but as of December 31, 2025, I am happy to say that I fully retired as an Ordained Lutheran Pastor, and as President of Public Safety Ministries. The non-profit corporation has been officially dissolved, bank accounts closed, website shut down, and final financial filings and documentation are soon to be complete. It has been a great 21 year run, the timing feels right… and I’m looking forward to heading out on some new adventures!

And last, I want to share the experience that was most unexpected, and probably the most impactful. Through my pre-operation physical for my foot surgery, last spring, I was diagnosed with a bone marrow cancer. It is considered a type of non-Hodgkin Lymphoma called Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia. It is a very rare, slow growing, not curable, but very treatable cancer. I have been receiving Targeted Therapy (pills taken at home) treatment at Mayo Clinic since last summer. The results have been very positive, with few side effects, and now heading down the trail towards remission in the near future! The early prognosis from my Doc was “You are looking at 10-15 years-plus of healthy living” and all indications since then support that probability.

Well there you have it. All three of these experiences have taught me many things, giving me stories that I fully intend to share when I get a better handle on actually knowing what those stories are. Although I consider myself fully retired, I intend to write occasional letters, hopefully with some consistency to better keep in touch with all of you.

Thanks for reading, and allowing me to know a bit more of what I think!

With Care, Dan