Dear Mr. Leonard,
In January 2004 my grandfather, James F. O'Connor, died.
My extended family comprised of my grandparent's 6 children & spouses, 14 grandchildren, and several great-grandchildren were all devastated after losing the eternal optimist and ultimate "good guy" of our big, crazy, (sometimes maddening,) Irish-Catholic family.
My grandparents helped raise me and I was their unofficial 7th kid. After Grandpa Jim's death, I moved back to the Detroit area with my husband to be near my grandmother, Catherine "Lou" O'Connor, and try to keep her spirits up, (or at least give her someone to swing her cynical quips towards, and boss around while taking my turn driving her to mass!)
Although my grandmother would often prefer playing cards or watching Alex Tribec on Jeopardy to reading novels and such....I got in the habit of bringing her books to say the things I couldn't say directly to her without sobbing like I was an 8 year old girl, as we were all trying to heal from the void he left in our lives. She picked up one book after a power outage and must have liked my selection. Since then, she reads almost everything I bring to her.
In 2006, I saw you on the Today show. It was almost like I was seeing my "Uncle Mike" on TV. (I don't actually have an Uncle Mike,....but I do have an Uncle Jim, Uncle Tom, Uncle Paul, Uncle Bob.) I called my grandmother up and told her to rush to turn on the show, but she missed your segment. A while later I was in Target shopping and your book magically appeared. I bought it and gave it to her and showed her how to play the included video in the DVD player. She passed it to my aunt and told her to read it too. Yesterday, after several years of circulation, my grandma (who is now 80,) passed your book back to me.
I read it again. I laughed and cried and felt a kinship to your family with all its personalities and threads that reflect my own, so closely. And I was given a new surprise. My grandmother had gone through the book and circled little sections that spoke to her heart, like the one where you realized your dad was wrong about all those other guys being "the nicest guy you could ever meet", as he was fond of saying.... and how he was really was the nicest guy you could ever meet. That is how we all felt about our grandpa, Jim. He would talk to anyone and gain an instant friend. A merry BS'er, and as sincere and good-hearted as any "Danny-boy" you'd ever wish to know.
Your book is now a little family treasure for me, with my grandmother's notes. I just wanted to thank you for sharing that piece of yourself. I know she enjoyed it in ways she can't express. It isn't her style to say so.
I was also wondering how your family is doing. I tried to find an update online but can't seem to find much past 2006-07. Can you let me know how your clan is doing? Have you ever thought of writing a follow-up piece?
Wishing you and yours many blessings for 2009
Best,
Audrey
From: Mike Leonard <@mike-leonard.com>
To:Audrey >
Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2009 7:44:12 AM
Subject: Ride of Our Lives
Audrey,
What a wonder email! I can't tell you how honored I am that you took the time to compose such a thoughtful, interesting and heartfelt note. Your descriptions of the family, your grandparents, uncles etc came through with warmth and humor. It's so amazing to know that we have connected in such a cool way.
It's funny, I had no intention of writing a book before taking that journey but after I put together a short Today show series using home movie clips of our travels an offer came to write a book and I mulled it over for a while. I didn't want to write a travelogue. To me the bumpy ride across America represented a ride through life and that's what I wanted to convey. Having never written a book before I didn't know what I was getting into. Your wonderful response tells me that my efforts were appreciated...and that means everything to me.
We recently took the huge amount of home movie video taken along the way and turned it into a syndicated public television series that has played in various markets at different times. It's now on a DVD (www.rideofourlives.com) which goes beyond the book to update things.
Josie will turn five in March and now has a little 21 month old brother James.
Matt and Margarita had a little boy, Brady, who just turned two.
Kerry is getting married in late May.
Brendan just turned twenty five and is in a band.
My dad and mom are still with us at 92 and 87 although my father's health has been challenged by cancer. Through it all he has remained the same upbeat, hopeful soul. And my mom is still a funny, wiseguy.
Thank you again Audrey. I hope all is well with you and that we get a chance to meet someday.
Mike
What is a girl to do when she is under-the-weather? Browse Etsy, of course. I wanted to find an Abe Lincoln locket. No lockets appeared, but this top hat pendant did. I just love it. 
