My Bucket List 48-State Documentary

I dodged a bullet, so it would seem. After testing today, we learned that my swallowing difficulties were due entirely to my Parkinson's disease. It's not cancer.

The food and liquid getting stuck? It makes perfect sense. The esophagus has two strictures... one in the middle, one at the bottom that lets food into the stomach. PD affects the muscles. The esophagus is a tube of muscle. The strictures are slower than they should be, like my other muscles. That explains the food getting stuck. No lumps, no tumors, just Parkinson's disease.

I began to think in terminal terms when I thought I might have the same disease that killed my older sister. But now that I know it is just the same old Parkinson's I've had for 17 years showing up in a new manifestation, I would still like to raise $15,000 to fund a 35-day trip to videotape all of the state capitols in the lower 48. Your donation would be used to get video of these historic buildings, cities, and -- if I can wrangle it -- interviews with state officials.

Here's the itinerary, depending on your generosity.

1. Clinton to Des Moines to Lincoln

2. Lincoln to OKC

3. OKC to Austin

4. Austin to El Paso

5. El Paso to Phoenix

6. Phoenix to Santa Fe

7. Santa Fe to Denver to Cheyenne

8. Cheyenne to Salt Lake

9. Salt Lake to Boise

10. Boise to Carson City to Sacramento

11. Sacramento to Portland

12. Portland to Olympia (Rest Day)

13. Olympia to Helena

14. Helena to Bismarck

15, Bismarck to Pierre

16. Pierre to St. Paul

17. St. Paul to Madison

18. Madison to Springfield

19. Springfield to Lansing

20. Lansing to Indianapolis

21. Indianapolis to Nashville

22. Nashville to Frankfort to Columbus

23. Columbus to Charleston to Harrisburg

24. Harrisburg to Trenton to Albany

25. Albany to Montpelier to Portland

26. Portland to Boston to Concord

27. Concord to Providence to Hartford (Rest Day)

28. Hartford to Dover to Annapolis

29. Annapolis to DC to Richmond

30. Richmond to Raleigh to Columbia

31. Columbia to Atlanta to Montgomery

32. Montgomery to Tallahassee (Rest Day)

33. Tallahassee to Baton Rouge

34. Baton Rouge to Jackson to Little Rock

35. Little Rock to Jefferson City to Clinton

ANTICIPATED EXPENSES -- 

CAR RENTAL - 35 days — Midsize SUV $2,200

LODGING AND FOOD ($200 per day) $7,000

Estimate for Fuel, based on 30 mpg for 14,000 miles. $1,050

MAC Book Pro $1,500

Professional Video Camera/Kit $1,500

I want to take this trip with the hope of showing everyone that even in this day and age, we are all Americans with more to unite us than to divide us.

I would post daily YouTube updates of that day's adventures. Folks who donate $100 or more will be named (if they wish) in the credits. Then, at the end of the trip, I will produce a feature length documentary of the entire trip.

I hope you see the merit in this request. If you've never traveled, you will be amazed by the beauty of our nation. We will meet and talk to regular folks, state leaders, and everyone in between.

Can you help make this dream come true?

https://www.gofundme.com/48statedocumentary

Thank you.