This is a post I made on Facebook from the Parks on the Air group a few minutes ago. Thought you might enjoy…. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ My Triumphant First Solo POTA Activation! Yesterday marked a significant milestone for me: my very first solo Parks on the Air (POTA) activation! Despite challenging band conditions here in the Pacific Northwest, I had an absolute blast. More than just making contacts, this outing was a personal victory, proving I could manage a full setup on my own. For those in the amateur radio community, POTA is more than just making contacts; it's about the adventure of portable operations, pushing your limits in the field, and exploring new parks. It's the thrill of setting up a station from scratch, testing gear in real-world conditions, and the camaraderie between activators and the "hunters" who chase us from their shacks. Each activation offers a unique challenge and a chance to earn awards, making it a highly engaging aspect of the hobby. Living with Multiple Myeloma (which is the #2 blood cancer in the world) and a secondary disease called AL Amyloidosis presents daily challenges. Neither has a cure, but I'm incredibly grateful to have been in remission for 8 and a half years! However, these conditions also bring congestive heart failure and other amyloid issues that severely limit my ability to stand or walk for long periods. Even walking up the stairs in my four-level house makes my heart pound, and with the amyloid in my heart, it takes considerable time for it to return to what, for me, is a normal rest state—I'm actually never truly at "normal" rest, always in A-fib and A-flutter. This means that any exertion, like putting up all my radio gear and antennas, significantly stresses my heart and severely affects my orthostatic hypotension. I constantly had to sit and rest, waiting for my heart to settle before I could tackle the next task. So, getting everything set up was a true test of perseverance and felt like a huge victory, regardless of how many QSOs (contacts) I made. Adding to my purpose, I'm also a life coach with HealthTree Foundation, specifically a Multiple Myeloma coach. It's incredibly fulfilling to help other patients navigating the difficulties of their cancer journey, offering support and sharing insights from my own experience. I want to tell my coachees to get out and enjoy life we necer know how much time any of us have, healthy not like my coachees The bonus was achieving a "2-fer" – activating two parks in one trip! It took a bit longer than expected, so long in fact, I even forgot my lunch – live and learn! But the absolute highlight? While I was calling "CQ POTA," on the air, a couple walked by and asked, "Are you calling airstrikes on Iran?!" Without missing a beat, I shot back, "You bet! Going to blast the &)#£ out of them!" We all shared a fantastic laugh. It was moments like that, combining the joy of radio with a good chuckle, that made the whole experience unforgettable.