Freedom

Norma Jean Bauerschmidt lived a quiet northern Michigan life for 90 years, never even crossing a state line.  It took the death of her husband of 67 years, followed by her own diagnosis of a terminal illness two days later, for Norma to stop existing and start living. Refusing a hospital bed, she told her doctor, “I’m 90-years-old. I’m hitting the road.”

Driving Miss Norma: One Family’s Journey Saying “Yes” to Living chronicles the year-long road trip with son and daughter-in-law, Tim Bauerschmidt and Ramie Liddle. Both are professional nomads who travel cross-country full-time in their Airstream trailer, along with Ringo the dog.

Also today, being the last remaining child of Angela of Angela’s Ashes fame, coupled with being Irish, Malachy McCourt has a certain expertise on death.  His latest book, Death Need Not Be Fatal, is of course about the rituals of death … for instance, why do we keep our lights on in funeral processions … but it also is about laughing, tears, brotherhood, poverty, the famous, and living life to the fullest.

Malachy McCourt is an actor, writer, politician, and younger brother of famed writer Frank McCourt.  He was the 2006 Green Party candidate for Governor of New York, has appeared in numerous television shows and movies, and authored several books.