In 2012, to celebrate being seventy, an old friend and I crossed North America. She wished to deliver her Ford Explorer from Pasadena, California to Reading, Vermont. Apart from that practical objective, we wanted to revisit our country to gain some sense of the whole. She had never left. But I had long ago moved to Australia—and my Yankee perceptions had been radically modified. “Thelma and Louise” they called us. But we were older, not running away from violent husbands, not about to shoot anyone—and certainly not motivated to drive off a cliff. We compared ourselves to John Steinbeck, who…
Subscribe to get access to all online articles
Already a member?
Sign in to read this article
Digital Subscription
$98 / YR
Get the latest ideas from Australia’s most insightful writers.
- Digital Subscription includes
- Online editions of Quadrant Magazine
- Printed editions of Quadrant Magazine
- iPad ready PDF
- Access to Quadrant Archives
Printed & Digital Subscription
$118 / YR
For avid readers of leading ideas
from Australia’s brightest.
- Printed & Digital Subscription includes
- Online editions of Quadrant Magazine
- Printed editions of Quadrant Magazine
- iPad ready PDF
- Access to Quadrant Archives
- Quadrant Patron includes
- Online editions of Quadrant Magazine
- Printed editions of Quadrant Magazine
- iPad ready PDF
- Access to Quadrant Archives
- All new editions of Quadrant Books
- Exclusive invitations to Quadrant Dinners, book launches and events.
- Quadrant Patron includes
- Online editions of Quadrant Magazine
- Printed editions of Quadrant Magazine
- iPad ready PDF
- Access to Quadrant Archives
- All new editions of Quadrant Books
- Exclusive invitations to Quadrant Dinners, book launches and events.