Maggie's Farm

We are a commune of inquiring, skeptical, politically centrist, capitalist, anglophile, traditionalist New England Yankee humans, humanoids, and animals with many interests beyond and above politics. Each of us has had a high-school education (or GED), but all had ADD so didn't pay attention very well, especially the dogs. Each one of us does "try my best to be just like I am," and none of us enjoys working for others, including for Maggie, from whom we receive neither a nickel nor a dime. Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for.

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Sunday, February 18. 2018

Aging parents: "Can't we talk about something more pleasant?"

The great cartoonist Roz Chast put her campy irony aside to produce a heartfelt and mostly hilarious cartoon book about the aging and decline of her parents. OK, lots of gallows humor.


If you have or have had declining parents, it's required reading and you will recognize everything except Brooklyn (unless you grew up in Brooklyn - the 7th largest city in the USA if it were still its own city).


Also for non-New Yorkers, her illustrated Going Into Town - A Love Letter to New York is an excellent and humorous guide.


Posted by Bird Dog in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation at 15:38 | Comments (4) | Trackbacks (0)

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Yes, BD, this is a great book; a remarkable book. It is very funny and very heart wrenching, with an almost Pepysian straight-from-the-shoulder sensibility. If anyone is facing the challenge of dealing with aging loved ones, they would do better to read this book than a hundred "how to" books and articles by various counsellors and psychologists. They won't be able to read it without wincing -- and laughing out loud. Chast is one of the funniest and most insightful cartoonists ever, and here she unfolds a gripping and entertaining story that is, in the end, a beautiful example of real love and duty.
#1 Ralph Kinney Bennett on 2016-02-12 19:55 (Reply)
How about a book for aging parents? Like me and the missus.
#2 BillH on 2016-02-13 09:55 (Reply)
I liked it reasonably well. My wife didn't take to it.
#3 Assistant Village Idiot (Link) on 2018-02-18 15:58 (Reply)
I second Bill H. However, having watched, and helped a little, my wife deal with her aging Mother, I know the formula for aging. Do everything you can to stay independent as long as possible, and then die before you become a burden to those you love, and who love you.

From personal observation, most aging parents feel the same way; but, it sneaks up on you, sorta of on little cat's feet to borrow a phrase.
#4 oldflyer on 2018-02-18 22:47 (Reply)

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