This was a wonderful piece. The theme of making sense of where we find ourselves in the current moment really struck home. You wrote about your mother-in-law with great grace.
Thanks so much, David. I appreciate you reading it. And taking time to comment. There's something about how she circles those words that speaks to me. I'm looking forward to your essay on fights in marriage tomorrow!
I arrived home frazzled today. I’d met my writing group in a new library where I expected a holy hush. Today it was children’s hour. Apparently the wheels on the bus go round and round interminably. Then as I was leaving, I couldn’t find my car in the new car park for twenty minutes. Eventually I drove away to meet my mother for lunch. She’s ninety-one and has little or no short term memory left. It’s hard work and she is not happy with much these days. Reading this has untangled my nerves and soothed that part of me that was feeling shattered. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for sharing. The last couple of days have had a decent mix of shattering along with it all, so I completely understand. I hope you get some writing done and see all you achieved in that busy day--wheels on the bus, too!
The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George is one of those books that tries to make sense of the world — it's about love and loss, and how the people we love stay with us after they're gone. And it's about how reading is the cure for all ailments of the soul ❤️ 📚
It's a strange navigation. My hugest achievement today is that we had a calm and peaceful bath time. Making pizza with the kids now... Thank you so much for reading and commenting--and for being here.
Thank you for this beautiful essay Alice. I walked a similar path, one province over in Alberta, with my Mom. The slipping away, the grasping to hold on.
It is the hardest thing.
In the end it’s about the sunlight shining on our (or her) face and those stolen moments than slide deeper inside, touching that place we cannot name, leaving an imprint on our heart.
I feel that--the imprint--as it's happening. There's a brevity to this period and an undercurrent that it can't last forever, that the future will have harder moments in it. It feels opposite to raising children. But, oh, we have so much sunshine today, falling all over the snow. Thank you for writing this for me. It caught my breath as I was making coffee this morning. xoxo
Loved reading your post. I hope all continues to go well with Nicole and your family as she settles in. This piece ressonated with me as I'm also a carer - for my mom, who is 78 (and has had Alzheimer's for 10 years now.) But, in our case, I left behind my whole life in London, UK, and moved to her small town in Brazil, in the middle of the Mantiqueira mountains, to share her caring with my brother. I'm always fascinated by the lives of other carers so thank you for allowing a glimpse into your life.
A lovely piece, beautifully shared, Alice. The grace and slightly surreal nature of it all. The grasping at words, trying to capture a snapshot of life. The struggles. I can almost hear the music that accompanies it filling the space of lost words.
This was a wonderful piece. The theme of making sense of where we find ourselves in the current moment really struck home. You wrote about your mother-in-law with great grace.
Thanks so much, David. I appreciate you reading it. And taking time to comment. There's something about how she circles those words that speaks to me. I'm looking forward to your essay on fights in marriage tomorrow!
I also sent you a direct message.
I arrived home frazzled today. I’d met my writing group in a new library where I expected a holy hush. Today it was children’s hour. Apparently the wheels on the bus go round and round interminably. Then as I was leaving, I couldn’t find my car in the new car park for twenty minutes. Eventually I drove away to meet my mother for lunch. She’s ninety-one and has little or no short term memory left. It’s hard work and she is not happy with much these days. Reading this has untangled my nerves and soothed that part of me that was feeling shattered. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for sharing. The last couple of days have had a decent mix of shattering along with it all, so I completely understand. I hope you get some writing done and see all you achieved in that busy day--wheels on the bus, too!
Warmest gratitude,
Ali xoxox
The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George is one of those books that tries to make sense of the world — it's about love and loss, and how the people we love stay with us after they're gone. And it's about how reading is the cure for all ailments of the soul ❤️ 📚
My friend just recommended it, too. I'm getting it for our trip to the UK that's upcoming.
Okay. I’m going to read it next. That sounds perfect. Thank you, Ashleigh xox
Just beautiful, and resonant as my own parents age and I navigate midlife. That bit about retelling our own stories…wow.
It's a strange navigation. My hugest achievement today is that we had a calm and peaceful bath time. Making pizza with the kids now... Thank you so much for reading and commenting--and for being here.
Thank you for this beautiful essay Alice. I walked a similar path, one province over in Alberta, with my Mom. The slipping away, the grasping to hold on.
It is the hardest thing.
In the end it’s about the sunlight shining on our (or her) face and those stolen moments than slide deeper inside, touching that place we cannot name, leaving an imprint on our heart.
I feel that--the imprint--as it's happening. There's a brevity to this period and an undercurrent that it can't last forever, that the future will have harder moments in it. It feels opposite to raising children. But, oh, we have so much sunshine today, falling all over the snow. Thank you for writing this for me. It caught my breath as I was making coffee this morning. xoxo
❤❤❤
Loved reading your post. I hope all continues to go well with Nicole and your family as she settles in. This piece ressonated with me as I'm also a carer - for my mom, who is 78 (and has had Alzheimer's for 10 years now.) But, in our case, I left behind my whole life in London, UK, and moved to her small town in Brazil, in the middle of the Mantiqueira mountains, to share her caring with my brother. I'm always fascinated by the lives of other carers so thank you for allowing a glimpse into your life.
Wow, Ollie, that sounds like a story. What a journey. Thank you for giving me a glimpse today. xoxox
A lovely piece, beautifully shared, Alice. The grace and slightly surreal nature of it all. The grasping at words, trying to capture a snapshot of life. The struggles. I can almost hear the music that accompanies it filling the space of lost words.
https://www.carermentor.com/p/music-memory-is-more-powerful-than
Thanks so much, Victoria. I love your comment. xoxo
Powerful and graceful piece
Thanks, Art! That's very nice to hear from a writer I respect so much.
Be still my heart, Alice. This is beautiful.
You made me smile all the way through. Thank you. xoxox