Dave Brigham

Great / Dismal: My Four-Month Tour of Duty on The Battleship Patchouli Dave Brigham

With a high school buddy and two friends from college, Dave Brigham set out to see America from a converted handyman's van. He hoped an open-ended exploration of the U. S. would spur him to shed his inhibitions, conquer his fear of spontaneity and open up his introversive nature. The road trippers cut a swath from New England to Florida, Louisiana to New Mexico and back east again, spending a few months living in the Land of Enchantment. They cut loose at a world-famous bar in Athens, Georgia; drank with locals in Philly, Memphis and New Orleans; laughed their way through Florida's Gatorland; and explored historic sites in New Mexico.

All along, Brigham struggled to let himself go, to live in the moment. He didn't know why he found this so difficult. His friends would play a round of golf, gamble at a racetrack, explore off-the-beaten-path sites, or let their hair down at a fraternity party, but the author had a difficult time joining in the fun.

In the course of writing this book, Brigham discovered some things about himself that helped explain why he'd struggled during the road trip: he has Attention Deficit Disorder and Executive Function Disorder. Those issues make it hard for him to stay on task, make plans and follow through on them, and concentrate on things for any length of time. They can lead to frustration and feelings of inadequacy.

Despite his struggles on the road, Brigham ended up with memories he wouldn't trade for anything. And he learned more about who he is, and how to manage his challenges.