The death of her father and the early signs of dementia in her mother prompts Marilyn Berman to examine her own mortality. At sixty years of age and feeling the call of travel, Berman embarks on a long awaited fantasy of "driving up mountains, camping on lakes and shopping in quirky towns." With a converted VW van serving as a camper and home for the next year or two and a trusty GPS system nicknamed "Mazie Grace," Marilyn heads north.
Along the way she meets strangers who share their own stories and way of life with her. Berman reflects on her time spent with them while travelling through America and Canada and remembers her youth and struggles with the buried secret of her sexuality. Settling briefly in Maine for the long winter and compelled by a sense of adventure she makes new friends, forming social and spiritual connections she will treasure and remember. Eventually finding her way back home, Berman is thus empowered with new beginnings and fresh starts.
Traveling the Two Lane is both a timely and poignant memoir. With keen observation and humor and written in a down-to-earth tone, Berman's memoir is more than just a road trip as she explores present day America and evokes a deep sense of history. She learns about the places she experiences, inspired by the beauty and power of humanity and nature, and the more she learns about herself, hers becomes a journey of self-discovery and acceptance. Berman's insights and life lessons will give you pause to reflect on and appreciate your own life and experiences.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review