Norma turned 90 and hit the road. It also was a trip to celebrate the end of her life. How’s that for badass and extremely poignant?
It went like this: In the span of two weeks, 90-year-old Norma Jean Bauerschmidt’s husband died AND she was diagnosed with uterine cancer. Instead of hitting the chemo, she said, “I’m hitting the road.” With her doc’s approval, no less.
Her son Tim, and his wife, Ramie Liddle, offered for her to move into their home – an RV. Bauerschmidt had spent most of her life in the ‘shadow’ of her husband – as her son put it – and she decided it was time to have some adventures – so she said yes.
With her dog, her son, and her daughter-in-law, she took off to see America. Bauerschmidt and company ate and drank their way from the Atlantic to the Pacific, stopping to take a dip in each. They saw wild horses and flew hot air balloons. Norma led the way and the gang happily went along for a ride that’s still giving us all travel envy.
Her story’s a shining reminder that your life is yours to live on your own terms: Stay weird. Be kind. Eat cake.
Rest easy, road mama.
Feature photo: Ramie Liddle
