The Lenghts You Would Go For Family

In June 1994, a 73-year-old man named Alvin Straight set out on a journey that would capture hearts and inspire a movie. When Alvin opened a letter he received, the news was not good. Alvin Straight’s brother, Henry, who lived 390 kilometers away, had suffered a stroke. The brothers had not spoken for ten years because of some falling out over something Alvin couldn’t even remember anymore.

Alvin wanted to visit his brother, but he couldn’t get a driver’s license because of his poor eyesight. Instead of giving up, Alvin came up with a unique solution – he decided to make the trip on his 1966 John Deere lawnmower.

The journey was anything but fast. With a top speed of only 8 km/h, it took Alvin six weeks to reach his brother. He faced challenges like bad weather and mechanical breakdowns along the way, but his determination kept him going. His trip became a symbol of perseverance, love, and the lengths someone will go for family.

On August 15, 1994, June Straight looked down the country road in Blue River. She shouted to Henry: ‘There’s a lawn mower coming this way, and I think your brother Alvin is riding it.’ Reconciled, Alvin and Henry spent a few weeks catching up. June didn’t mind. “Alvin was happy just as long as he had meat and potatoes for supper,” she said. “He wasn’t much trouble. He slept out in his trailer mostly.”

That September, Henry’s son Dwayne drove Alvin and his lawnmower home. The Straight story was over, but it was just getting started. Alvin’s odyssey made news from South Africa to Australia. He was invited to be on Leno and Letterman. He refused.

Back home, Alvin got itchy. The following April, he set out on his refurbished mower, this time westbound. Rolling through Marathon, Iowa, and Rembrandt and Larabee, his destination was Sun City, Idaho, 1,931 kilometers away. Alvin mowed down the road for 643 kilometers before wind, rain and sun stopped him. He never recovered after getting sick, dying of heart failure that November.

Alvin’s incredible story inspired the 1999 film *The Straight Story*, which brought his journey to the big screen. His adventure wasn’t just about getting to his brother – it was about the power of determination and the importance of family. Alvin proved that no obstacle is too big when you’re driven by love and a desire to reconnect.