the high-point they visited in that state. Along with hiking they spent more time working on their kayaking skills. Often they find themselves kayaking on Lewis & Clark Lake now to join the excitement of hiking along the Lake. Other places they visit regularly include Stone Park in Sioux City and Newton Hills near Canton and these stops make for more enjoyable runs than a jaunt on a treadmill. In a way, this new lifestyle is a bucket list for James and the accomplishment she experiences fills her life. “I feel so very blessed,” James said. “The diagnosis has become a springboard to do more things, see life differently. In a weird way it is a blessing itself.” James has always wanted to go dogsledding and that trip is on their trekking agenda after they cover the lower 48 states. There must be a mountain in Alaska for her husband to climb. She has always been fascinated with glass igloos in Finland and then maybe they could fit another visit to the serenity and peacefulness of the Apostle Islands on Lake Superior. But there’s nothing fast and solid in the future of their high-pointing travels James said. Nevada vLIFE continued from page 9 On their stop to Wisconsin, Tim coaxed James to try kayaking. There is definitely a learning curve James admits but it’s fast becoming her new favorite thing to do. The couple often travels to areas where there are lakes but the trip to Michigan is a high-point in their memories even as they remember Husband Tim describes his wife’s philosophy of living in a quote from Hunter S. Thompson, “Life should not be a journey to a grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, Wow! What a ride!” Expert health care FOR ALL AGES Amanda Duxbury, MD, Heather Kleeman, DO, Mary Jo Olson, MD, and Anastasia Searcy, DO, Family Medicine; Chan Park, MD, General Surgery Make a personal, lifelong connection with the physicians at Sanford Vermillion. Our team specializes in preventive care, diagnosis and management of chronic conditions as well as general surgery. Call (605) 677-3700 to schedule an appointment. 018027-00342 6/17 10vHERVOICEvNOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2017 vBy Linda Wuebben