Overview

Dottie Thomas, born in the early 20th century, lived an extraordinary life... ...filled with Stardust as she wandered down the lane and far away from the small towns of her youth, and became a citizen of the world. Dottie grew up with a sense of adventure and independence in rough and tumble times, with a saw-filer daddy, four brothers, and a loving mommy. After spending the summer of 1940 in Mexico City, she was bitten by the urge to see the world. Dottie eventually traveled to five continents and more than thirty countries. The memories recounted in this book encompass her childhood through her early married years and the births of her two daughters. She recalls growing up in Pacific Northwest logging towns during the Great Depression and the impact of World War II on her friends, her brothers, and herself. She tells of following her brothers to college and into teaching. She talks about living in construction camps in Brazil and Canada, with her new husband, and later with her babies, and about trips back and forth by Tramp Steamer, Cruise Ship, and Propeller Plane.

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Reviews

Dottie's sharp memory for details makes her story come alive, and it's delightful to read. I came away thoroughly impressed by her love of adventure, her courage, and her good humor. From her childhood in rough lumber mill towns to her USO experiences in World War II, to her years in Brazil, Dottie paints a vivid portrait of life in the first half of the 20th century. Dan R. Green, Marketing Writer and Playwright I loved reading these entertaining, heartwarming, and honest tales of a life well-lived. I really wanted her story to continue when it ended back in Sonora after her two visits to Brazil. Having done a bit of traveling myself, I was so impressed by Dottie's risk-taking in her adventures to a completely unknown (to her) part of the world. Plus, she turned every new adventure into a life-affirming experience. Dorothy's stories portray good common sense, humor, and a love for life. The delivery is fresh, authentic, and I could hear Dorothy's voice throughout. Rena Cutright, Elementary School teacher, World Traveler, and personal friend of Dorothy Wander down the Lane and Far Away is a book to savor. Every piece of a tale, every adventure, every emotion will be a memory you won't want to leave. It's a rare first-person account of the early life of Dorothy Thomas Kole (1918-2019) as told to her daughter Jane. Every person in the stories and vintage photos becomes a living and loving figure: Dottie herself, her parents and brothers, her friends, her husband Pup, and daughters Janie and Karen become full-fleshed people that you take to your heart. Myra Silverman, Secondary Public School Teacher and Administrator, World Traveler

Author Information

Dottie was born in the Midwest and grew up in small towns across the Pacific Northwest. She followed her dreams across the world stage to live, teach, and raise two daughters, Jane and Karen. The decades of her life following this memoir can be divided into two chapters: teaching elementary school and parenting in California, and then being a serial world tourist. Dottie passed away days shy of her 101ˢᵗ birthday in 2019. Jane grew up, attended college, and taught elementary school in California. After her retirement, she discovered her passion for sharing family stories. This is her third, and longest, collection of tales. Though her heart thrives in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, she lives on the edge of the San Francisco Bay with her husband, Steve. Kay, also known as Karen, left home to attend college in the Pacific Northwest. She made a career of teaching Deaf and Hard of Hearing children and raised her own two daughters in Seattle. After retirement, she honed her talent of digitally restoring old family photos so Jane could use them in her books. She lives in West Seattle with her husband, Doug, their younger daughter, and their two cats.

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