Escapees May June 2015 Demo

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60 .ESCAPEES |May/June 2015 |
Shifting Gears: One Family’s Journey to Find Sim-
plicity and Purpose in a Changing World
Mimi Roberts • Publisher: Black Rose Writing 2015 • ISBN:
978-1612964690 • Paperback: $18.95 • Kindle: $6.99
Mimi Roberts is a fabulous
writer who is funny, insight-
ful and inspiring in spite
of the sometimes difficult
hand life has dealt her. She
and her husband, Paul, were
caught in the collapse of
the real estate bubble in
Florida. They had bought
an old neighbor’s house to
remodel and to sell. But
then the bottom fell out of
the market. This bad luck
was followed by a near-fatal
medical emergency for Paul
that devastated them both
emotionally and financially. Owning a 1977 banana-yel-
low VW camper bus named Daisy, they decided to travel
to find the meaning of life and its purpose. Taking their
two children, Ana, in the second grade, and Max, in late
elementary school, they set off on a three-month odyssey
around the United States. Mimi talks about traveling on
the cheap, sleeping at restaurants and stores. She ponders
the fallacy of true home ownership. Her children blossom
as they travel seeing various parts of the country, and she
offers insights and experiences in family-building oppor-
tunities. One of her final comments was, “As for me, well,
if I had to sum it up, I’d have to say that it’s easy to know
what’s important in your life—it’s a lot harder to figure
out what’s not. And that has made the world of difference
in my life.” This book chronicles a wonderful adventure
for the Roberts family. Sharing their experiences, joys and
tribulations is a reading pleasure well worth the effort.
From Working to Wisdom: The Adventures and
Dreams of Older Americans
Brendan Hare • Publisher: Joppa Flats Publishing 2015 •
ISBN: 978-0996003407 • Paperback: $16.95 Kindle: $6.99
Unlike some societies, in this country the wisdom of elders
is a valuable asset that is often unappreciated. Society’s
young can profit from the life’s lessons learned if they will
only listen. This book contains the stories of older Ameri-
cans who have forged their unique paths in business, sports,
education and, most importantly, life. They include business
owners, teachers, soldiers, musicians, writers, laborers, art-
ists and barbers. These
first-person narratives
describe the hopes and
dreams of 46 men and
women. Their stories
are inspiring and often
heart-warming. They
describe the richness
of life in later years,
confirming the idea
we are in charge of
our own lives and
attitudes. In the words
of Abraham Lincoln,
whose death occurred
150 years ago this
April 15, “Most people
are as happy as they
make up their minds
to be,” and “In the
end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in
your years.” If anything, this book is about the experience
of growing older and the joys and wisdom that come with
the lessons of life. It’s a fascinating glimpse into the lives of
these older Americans.
“This book contains the stories of older Americans
who have forged their unique paths in business,
sports, education and, most importantly, life. They
include business owners, teachers, soldiers, musi-
cians, writers, laborers, artists and barbers.”
Marcella Gauthier #12371, From Working to Wisdom:
The Adventures and Dreams of Older Americans
From the Bookshelf