I've been meaning to go to book club in my ward for who knows how many months. Well, this month all we had to do was show up with our favorite book. I didn't actually bring my favorite book, and I have a problem with committing to anything "favorite". So when it came time for me to share my favorite I talked about My Antonia, which everyone had already read a few months before for book club. But I digress.
Anyway, a couple of the ladies said this book, "Dancing with Rose", was a wonderful "life-changing" book. A journalist felt guilty about putting her mother in a care center when she got Alzheimer's. Anyway, she ended up working at a care center and wrote about her experiences and what she learned. I went out the next day and got it from the library. I was interested because my Grandma Mary took care of her husband who had Alzheimer's for a couple years until he passed away. A couple months after he died, her brother came to live with her who has the same disease. Well, it's just wearing her out completely. (She's 72ish years old, and also the Relief Society President, etc. etc. etc.) I thought about giving it to her for Christmas and wanted to read it first. (I read it in a couple days.) It might make her feel better about having her brother go stay in one of these care centers-- last time I checked she was dead against it. Anyway, I'm still not sure if I want to give it to her, but I think if anyone has ever known anyone with Alzheimer's, they should read it. It gives you a new, healthy perspective.
Has anyone read it?
Would it be weird if I gave this as a Christmas present?
4 comments:
I don't think it would be weird. If you mentioned (when giving it) that you've thought a lot about her and her situation and that you care about her and told her a bit about the book and that it helped you understand care centers like that more, then that might be good. And wow, was that the longest run-on sentence ever??? Your intentions are pure. I say go for it.
thanks Jen. I just ordered it, but I might be too late for Christmas. arg.
Speaking as the author...the benefit of giving the book would not be to make someone feel better about putting their relative in a facility. It would be to help them continue to see the person behind the disease. The book is all about what remains when you think everything is gone. It really is a life-affirming message. Thanks so much for reading. ordering the book!
wow, a comment from the author? that is crazy town.
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