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60

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ESCAPEES

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May/June 2015

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www.escapees.com

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