When Miss Norma was diagnosed with uterine cancer, she was advised to undergo surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. But instead of confining herself to a hospital bed for what could be her last stay, Miss Norma—newly widowed after nearly seven decades of marriage—rose to her full height of five feet and told the doctor, “I’m ninety years old. I’m hitting the road.”
And so Miss Norma took off on … took off on an unforgettable around-the-country journey in a thirty-six-foot motor home with her retired son Tim, his wife Ramie, and their dog Ringo.
As this once timid woman says “yes” to living in the face of death, she tries regional foods for the first time, reaches for the clouds in a hot air balloon, and mounts up for a horseback ride. With each passing mile (and one educational visit to a cannabis dispensary), Miss Norma’s health improves and conversations that had once been taboo begin to unfold. Norma, Tim, and Ramie bond in ways they had never done before, and their definitions of home, family, and friendship expand. Stop by stop, state by state, they meet countless people from all walks of life—strangers who become fast friends and welcome them with kindness and open hearts.
Infused with this irrepressible nonagenarian’s wisdom, courage, and generous spirit, Driving Miss Norma is the charming, infectiously joyous chronicle of their experiences on the road. It portrays a transformative journey of living life on your own terms that shows us it is never too late to begin an adventure, inspire hope, or become a trailblazer.
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This book shows a family that knows how to escort a family member into death with dignity, respect, and joy!
This book is a heart touching true story of a family coming together, knowing the outcome in the future and learning to live every moment fully. The family sets off on an adventure & they find themselves & each other. It’s not a “downer” at all & gives us pause to look at our own family relationships, the care & honesty between us. It would be a great book for a book club. I highly recommend this one!
Made me think about how I wish to live my last years of life. Very inspirational
Terrific book and through reading it I read another terrific book that the author mentioned called Being Mortal by Atul Gawande
I loved this book. What a beautiful way to live out your life.
Unforgettable characters who remind me of my family and friends.
Good reading but drawn out a bit too much.
Norma did it her way. An inspirational page turner.
A reminder that can choose to live life fully even when terminal rather than settle for a hospital bed– and as family can support the dreams and strengths of family rather than just resign ourselves or them
This book is an inspiration!!!
Her outlook is so inspiring; saying YES to life, not collapsing into dying. I couldnt out it down.
As an 88 yr old I really connected with the characters
What an inspiration and encouragement to read about this wonderful woman in the last year of her life as she and her incredible son and daughter-in-law experience things that they never dreamed of in their wildest imaginations. So glad they decided to share their journey with us!
This was one of the best books I’ve read in a while! It kept me hooked all the way through.
Tim & Ramie’s journey with “Miss Norma” (Tim’s mother) is a must-read for families with aging parents or other loved ones. Tender, warm, and always entertaining, Miss Norma and her RV-driving family present an excellent lesson on how to live life in every moment, right up to the inevitable. This is not a tear-jerker, and not about a “bucket-list.” This is a journey we’re all on, like it or not, and DRIVING MISS NORMA is the map on how to travel it best.
Remarkable people – Norma chose life rather than sitting in a nursing home or having surgery that would have been dreadfully hard on her. Her son and daughter-in-law are lovely people.
It was a wonderful book about taking life on even when you are 90 years old.
Too many people in their later years who are diagnosed with cancer have many options! This book is about a son and his wonderful wife who offer his 90 year old mom an option and make her last year + the most memoriable! The reactions of people across the US to their situation is heart warming too! The end is understood from the beginning but everything in between is a wonderful read!