Granny D: Walking Across America in My Ninetieth Year Book

In February 2000, at the age of 89, Doris Haddock decided to walk from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., to lobby for campaign finance reform and spread her message along the way. Granny D is a journal of the challenges and triumphs of her trek, in which she "found so many new friends along the road" who entrusted her "with so much of their hearts." Along her route, she was greeted with marching bands, serenades, and parades. She spoke to children, bikers, fraternity boys, politicians, and wayward wanderers alike (some of whom joined her). She also caught the attention of journalists, though some were more interested in the little-old-lady angle than the reform message, but Granny became an expert at keeping the focus on her lobbying effort. And though various TV networks canceled their coverage because she was a "soft news" story, she managed to direct plenty of attention to her cause. Bronchitis, emphysema, and arthritis plagued her--not to mention the other aches and pains that would afflict the toughest of bodies on a 3,000-mile hike. Averaging 10 miles per day, she fought challenging terrain, heat, and even a twister in Texas that almost carried her right off the road. And she celebrated her 90th birthday along the way. The book is not all politics, though. As various people, events, and places spark memories of her life, she steps back from the topic of finance reform and shares many personal moments: falling in love, the formation of deep friendships, working through grief. The tone is witty and conversational and fraught with bits of wisdom. Much more than a political platform or a call to action, Granny D also chronicles a rich and meaningful life. --Jacque Holthusen Read More