The Oregon trailhead of The Drive: a bookstore event Monday in The Dalles
The Drive’s long book roadshow makes its penultimate stop Monday in a city not far from where the road trip it chronicles began: Klindt’s Booksellers in The Dalles, Oregon. The timing couldn’t be more poignant — the day after I travel to my little brother’s gravesite for a memorial service. On Mother’s Day we will say our goodbyes to Nellie Fox Edwards, laid to rest next to the grandson whose death precipitated the journey that became the book.
The Drive: Searching for Lost Memories on the Pan-American highway has been adopted in Oregon — travel guru Rick Steves dedicated 20 minutes of his radio show/podcast to it this Spring (you can still listen here, it’s the last chunk and an amazing interview). Not one bookclub but FOUR are currently reading it there.
My aunt Ronnell Clift circulating it far and wide, my librarian friends Kent and Nancy Upton making sure libraries carry it, friends sending me rainy pictures of it on their dashboards; Other Mother fans like Sue Ann Arguelles shouting its praises to the independent owners of Klindt’s.
They “get” road trips in Oregon. Not surprising, along the route of Lewis and Clark. Or Cheryl Strayed’s “Wild” that made movie stars of towns along the Columbia River Gorge.
My parents were too grief-stricken to miss Oregon when they drove away from it in 1973. For me — this bookstore event will be a victory lap for the road trip of a lifetime. Fold the maps away; I’m home.
If you’re in The Dalles, Oregon — come to Klindt’s from 5-7pm Monday and I’ll sign your book. Get yours at the store (he’s stocked up) through the buy-the-book links at the bottom of the landing page on my teresabrucebooks.com website or here or here. Planning a road trip? Buy the audiobook here. Like The Drive’s Facebook page and tweet back at me @writerteresa. Like travel anthologies? I’m in a brand new one called Alone Together: Tales of Sisterhood and Solitude in Latin America which you can get here.
"TeresaBruceBooks" 
May 12, 2018 at 1:51 PM
Hi Teresa, You were so wonderful on this program! Another talent I didn’t realize you had! You could (and should if you want to) do more.
Hope you and Gary are well. Ernie and I have been back for a couple of months from our L.A. – Hawaii – Portland winter-escape month. Your talk made me laugh at myself – just like you, as you know, I’m a real planner and organizer, and I didn’t disappoint myself on this trip. I was so determined to do all the planning myself and by the time we left I was a nervous wreck. Once we were on our way, and everything went smoothly, I finally was able to relax. What a dummy I am!!
We were at the Volcanoes National Park on “the Big Island – Hawaii” 2 months ago, right where the eruption is happening. It was an amazing place to see, but now with all the destruction it’s very sad.
Anyway, I’d love to see the “group” but haven’t been in touch with anyone. But I will be.
I hope Oregon will be/is being/has been a good trip for you. Some good things and some sad things.
Stay in touch, Elaine
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December 13, 2019 at 9:52 PM
Fantastic read!! One question: Did you sell your truck in Argentina our drive her home? You rock, Scott
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December 14, 2019 at 10:09 AM
Hi Scott – glad you enjoyed riding along! We ended up shipping the truck back to Wisconsin and sold her to a young guy in Milwaukee who adores that year and engine model and is probably still driving her!
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December 14, 2019 at 4:37 PM
Thanks for your quick response Teresa!~ Glad your truck made it home safely as well! I see that you lecture and share on your books. Would love to be a part of that! I am a retired university professor with lots of time on his hands. I live in the PNW (Vashon Island, WA) and would travel anywhere (within reason) to see you share your stories. BTW I loved your TED talk. Wishing you and Gary Happy Holidays and wonderful travels, Scott
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