Congratulations to Donald Morse, winner of the 'How RVing Has Changed My Life' Contest!
HOW RV’ING HAS CHANGED MY LIFE
By
Donald Morse
In September 2008, I deployed to Camp Fallujah, Iraq to serve with the Multinational Force-West in Al Anbar Province, the birthplace of the insurgency in Iraq and pitted battles between Al Qaeda, Sunni and Shia militias. In the course of my 18 hour workdays in an unimaginable environment, my thoughts often wandered to truly how lucky I have been to live in America: where I never worry about driving from my home to work without worrying that the trash in the road might be an improvised explosive device (IED); where I can drive to a restaurant or movie any day that I desire without 20 other Marines with me, armed to the teeth ready to defeat any attack; where I can walk through the majestic forests or fish in the streams without fear of being kidnapped, or worse. Many of the pleasures and freedoms I have enjoyed here in America were non-existent in Iraq, and I often was sad for the children of Iraq who had little in wealth, freedom or leisure. I tried to picture myself as a child there but absolutely could not. I kept thinking of my loving family and the great experiences I had growing up in Kentucky, and the frequent camping trips my dad would take us along the Ohio River. We had just a small Coleman pop-up camper, but to me, it was the greatest moments of my childhood, and some of the strongest memories... to this day, I can still taste my Dads baked beans and hamburger meal that he cooked in a Dutch oven over open coals in a hole in the ground. We did not have much then, and my Dad worked so much we didn't often get to see him, but those camping trips were quite magical.
As a father of two beautiful children now (Curtis is 11 and Lauren is now 9) who has deployed yet again from home and causing exceptional worry on my kids about my safety, I knew that these magical years were slipping by, and I needed to ensure that my kids had strong memories like I had with my Dad. A fellow Marine who was coming to relieve me in Iraq corresponded with me by email and encouraged my dream that RV's are truly not as expensive ad they appeared and that I should look at using the money I’d saved in Iraq to "bite the bullet" and start making my own dreams.
When I returned in February, I asked my kids if they would love to go camping, and their enthusiasm sole me instantly. A fellow Marine had purchased and RV from Dodd RV, so at his invitation, we accompanied him to Dodd one Saturday afternoon. The gleam in Curtis and Lauren's eyes told me this was the moment, and the Dodd RV family helped me to realize a dream of owning my own motor-home. Since our purchase in March, not a month has gone by that we have not explored the joys of camping in our Damon Daybreak! Each trip is magical in its own right, but especially so when the children, when asked for what they would like for their birthday, respond "to go camping" with the family and their friends. Our motor-home has brought us joy, closeness and memories that will never fade, and have highlighted to me that truly the most precious things in life are close here in America: our renewed faith in God; our exploration of this wonderful country and the history it affords, and the ever increasing bond of love within our family. Thank you Dodd RV, particularly Jamie Dodd and Mike McNeil, for helping my family to realize a dream after a short 'nightmare'.
Donald Morse and family
Donald Morse sharing a dance with his wife Jessica
Below are pictures of the fun times we had this year. The weather was fabulous!
