One Good Ride…

by

What would you do if the doctor gave you two years to live?

Ponder that question a moment and then meet Mesannie Wilkins. The Maine native is famous for a 7000-mile journey on horseback.

Seven. Thousand. Miles.

Mesannie was born in the 1890s and grew up on a small farm without electricity or running water. Of necessity, she rode a mule to her job at a shoe factory. A few snickering neighbors named her Jackass Annie due to the mode of transportation.

By all accounts, Mesannie was a kind woman but it seems the town looked down on her because she was poor, poorly educated, and very independent. She was not a woman to bow to cultural norms, either, as evidenced by the fact that she preferred wearing dungarees to dresses. Maybe this independent streak contributed to two failed marriages–more fodder for the rumor mill.

In 1954, Mesannie saw the passing of her last living relative–her uncle. On the heels of this tragedy, she was diagnosed with tuberculosis and given two years to live. In a dark place emotionally, she sat down and prayed about her future because her past sure hadn’t delivered much to crow about.

No family. Two ex-husbands. No children. A dead-end job. A ramshackle home. And death waiting in the wings.

The more she thought about dying, the more she wanted to make what life she had left count. Her mother had always wanted to see the Pacific Ocean and the seed of an idea sprouted in Mesannie’s head. After much wrestling in prayer, she decided to take a journey.

She mortgaged her home, bought two horses–Tarzan and Rex, gathered up her dog, Depeche Toi, and purchased as many supplies as she and the animals could carry. On November 6, 1954, Mesannie stepped into the saddle and rode South, leaving her hometown of Minot. She had no map. She’d never been outside of Maine. She did have, however, an unswerving belief in the kindness of strangers.

They didn’t let her down.

As word spread of Mesannie’s journey, newspapers picked up the story, spreading her fame. Towns turned out to greet her and celebrities reached out to her. A gas station in Kentucky offered her a job to supplement her meager cash. A horse stable in New Jersey offered her a permanent home. Several municipalities let her spend the night in their jails. Some businesses comped her free stays in hotels.

Mesannie trudged into Wyoming just in time for Cheyenne Frontier Days where she received a marriage proposal from a lonely rancher. Given her past successes in that arena, however, she thanked him and moved on.

She arrived in California in December 1955. Inadvertently, Mesannie’s journey across America had shown the best of the nation. In an era when auto ownership had tripled, television had begun invading our homes, and life was moving faster than ever, kindness and generosity still ran in our veins.

In California, her pack horse Rex died. Art Linkletter bought her a replacement. She rode around the state for several months, enjoying the weather and the attention of stars like Groucho Marx. Feeling great for a woman with a terminal diagnosis, she absorbed the sunshine and smiles, and then made her way back to Maine.

Mesannie lived to be 88.

The thing I take away from this amazing woman’s story is you are never too old for an adventure. You’re never too old to do something amazing. Do you agree? Would you ever take on something like this alone? Where would you go?

It is women like Mesannie who inspired my heroine Priscilla in A Scout for Skyler. Comment and you could win one of two paperbacks I’m giving away. Thank you for reading

AMAZON

63 thoughts on “One Good Ride…”

  2. I never knew about her, thank you for this post! I don’t think I’m brave enough to attempt something like this alone and still I have so many places I would like to go, but where would you go if you could? <3

  3. Thank you for this story. I have never heard of Mesannie. I would love to travel around the states by car. That way, I could stop anywhere I wanted to.

  8. I loved reading about Mesannie, and I’ve read, enjoyed, and reviewed A Scout for Skyler. Keep the novels coming.

  9. Heather!! Welcome back to P&P! I absolutely loved your blog. So fascinating, and I was thrilled Mesannie proved the doctors wrong and lived wa-ay longer than they predicted! That’s a happy ending right there.

    Best of luck on your new release, my friend.

  10. Very interesting story and moral. If Mesannie inspired you character of Priscilla we will certainly be adding your book to our TBP (to be purchased) list.
    We’ve never been to the Pacific either and age has begun to restrict our travel.
    Thanks for sharing this information.

  11. Good morning Heather! What I find most fascinating (maybe I’m strange) is that amdist all she’d dealt with in her hometown, she STILL believed in the kindness of strangers. That’s faith. Walking into the unknown, believing something you’ve never actually seen. Love it.

    • Methinks that, as in life everywhere, it’s the loudmouths who get the attention and set the agenda. She returned to ME to end her days so I think there were wonderful people all around her and she focused on them. As we all should! Thanks, girl, for the lovely point!

  12. what an amazing story. it seems she didnt fight back or buckle at those who looked down on her, but stood and made something of herself. she knew she was worth it. thanks for sharing what you have learned. I love your stories and would be honored to read this book quilting dash lady at comcast dot net

  13. That is an awesome piece of history for you to share with us this morning and what a wonder that she lived that long!

  14. I loved the story of Mesanne. I’ve never heard it before. I wonder why.???? What’s amazing is how she handled being made fun of, but went on to do her own thing. She ignored everything and everyone. Even being sick she still made a mark in history. Even beating her illness. What a woman, especially for the time.
    If I were alone and had the means, Even at my age and healthy, I would drive around the country until I found the place I wanted to make home. Everyone above me has passed on, so I don’t have a home place anymore. Then I would love to find an old building where they have a wonderful old downtown brought back to life, and put in a bookstore/coffee shop where I would live above it. Hey, it doesn’t hurt to dream!
    Thank you Heather for an amazing story. It brightened my day. ??

  15. Mesanie has more integral fortitude that I have for sure. She took care of her own health by being in the outdoors and spending so much time in California which undoubtedly led to her longevity. Many who were diagnosed with tuberculosis were sent to the dry climate in Arizona for healiing. So, she took care of her own healing by traveling. She had lots of fortitude and will power. Your new book sounds very intriguing. Looking forward to reading it when it comes out, Heather.

  17. Enjoyed your post! What a brave lady to take off on such a long journey not knowing what she would be facing. I admire her determination.

  19. Welcome, Heather. What a woman! This is an amazing story of courage and the desire to matter. I can’t wait to read your new book! It sounds really good and I love that cover!

  21. An amazing story of a woman who met the odds. We dont hear of many women being praised. The book should be historic.
    .

  22. Wow! What an amazing story!! Shows doctors don’t know everything, and that we can do whatever we put our minds, too, as long as God is on our side!

  23. What an amazing woman. I don’t remember ever hearing her story before. Wouldn’t it be nice if tv news shows ran more stories like this to encourage people instead of all the negative stuff they show us.

  26. Hi, Heather! I always enjoy the historical information you share. I have to admire Mesannie for her gumption and perseverance. And she beat the doctors’ prognosis, too! I am too much of a homebody to venture out like Mesannie.

  29. Hi , I had never heard of her and she sounds like she was a very brave lady , Thank you so much for sharing with us such a very inspirational lady. Your book sounds like a great read. I would have a family reunion and I would spend my time enjoying my family and spend alot of quality time with them in a cabin in the mountains. Have a great weekend.

  30. I believe I would take something like this. Not at the age I am now with current health issues. However, when I was 24, I finished 3 years in the Peace Corps and set of on a three month trip alone through Southeast Asia and the Middle East. I climbed 2 active volcanoes, attended local ceremonies seeing people walk on hot coals at one of them. What time I did have to travel alone was wonderful. I saw so many wonderful things and met so many interesting and good people. It was cut short when I got word from the Embassy in Singapore that my mother was dying. I spent what little money I had to fly straight home. I regret not being able to make the rest of my trip, but since I hadn’t seen my mother in 3 years, I really could not think of not being there to say goodbye. Oddly, when I was in SE Asia much was closed due to the Vietnam War while the Middle East was a safe place to visit. Today it is the reverse. The trip I planned could not be safely done today. There are still places on that route I would like to visit and hope to get the chance.

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