The Home Stretch: North of 80 - One Step at a Time (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781947237353)

Journalist Dave Nimmer won a Minnesota Book Award back in 1992 for a personal narrative called The Journey Goes On. Thirty years later, decidedly older and slower, slightly battered and bruised, but hopefully also stronger and wiser, he's back with The Home Stretch. During the decades since that early success, he lost friends, chased dreams, and learned lessons--sometimes the hard way. In this collection of essays he explores the process of aging with humor and compassion, relating adventures with friends, attempts to master new crafts, parting with long-time fishing buddies, mentoring young writers, volunteering at a homeless shelter, dealing with the last few days in the life of a much-loved but ailing dog, hiking the Grand Canyon, and a variety of other adventures and senior moments. Raised in a small town in Wisconsin, in one essay he reflects nostalgically on his first trip to the metropolis of Milwaukee. Others recount his battles with cancer and addiction. Several focus on local characters Nim has worked with as a reporter and come to admire. He also returns more than once to the issues of arrogance and personal failure, examining how his sense of compassion has grown as his need to call the shots and get ahead has dwindled. The result is a collection full of wisdom, humor, humanity, and local color that readers of all ages with enjoy.