Born in a military family, author Paul Schaefer was raised everywhere from the quaint English countryside to the heart of New York City.
After a stint in the Air Force, Paul took his own family to a remote Pacific island where he completed a PhD in anthropology. Drawn by happy memories of visiting his grandparent’s farm, the young family finally put down roots in Wisconsin. In true woods hippie fashion, they bought an abandoned 19th century farm. No electricity, no heat, no running water, no problem. Homesteading required nothing more than a lifetime of sweat equity. Off the farm, Paul shared his talents as an organizer, instigator and adjunct professor, keeping the counterculture alive while raising a family. Now grandparents, Paul and his wife Trudi still go full tilt, filling their days with barn animals, gardens, grandchildren, and a steadfast desire to raise their voices against the establishment.
Synopsis: Desperate for adventure, and a last chance to see her sister, 80-year-old Mary
hits the road for the cross country adventure of a lifetime. Her late husband’s
beloved Lincoln Town Car carries Mary from California to Minnesota, but also
down memory lane and straight into trouble. She might be old, but Mary’s no
dummy, and while the car’s a tank, it can’t entirely protect an elderly woman
traveling alone. The problem with bringing along a companion is that most people
are demanding, and Mary wants some peace and quiet on this last voyage. A shot
of inspiration leads her to “Mike,” the perfect plus one to ride shotgun as she
heads east. He’ll never disagree with her choice of music, food or lodging, doesn’t
need to pee and is guaranteed to let Mary do and say whatever she wants. Once
she gets him outfitted in her dead husband’s clothes, Mary figures no one will
ever know she brought a mannequin along for the ride. In reality, her department
store companion fills the passenger seat nicely in a pinch but it turns out he
doesn’t ward off the worst of what’s out there. Who knew a nice little old lady out
for a drive could be so dangerous?
