A Harvest Tale of Remembrance

by marionroach on October 1, 2009

apple basketIT IS OCTOBER, THE HARVEST, that great time for taking stock. Me? I’m grateful for many things, particularly the friendship and love of Margaret, my only sibling. We didn’t always see things the way we do now, and in that we missed huge chunks of each other’s lives. The reason for our separation? Our mother. The coming together? I credit time and patience and adult wisdom. And thinking about what might make a good harvest tale, I’m taking a chance here, and offering one about our mother, though I know Margaret will agree that here on the blog, at least, only good comes from who she was. [click to continue…]

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When Sisters Take On Alzheimer’s

by marionroach on May 8, 2009

On May 10, HBO begins airing a three-part series on Alzheimer’s disease. It’s a subject that the TSP sisters know something about. In 1983, Marion wrote the first, first-person account of the illness ever published, in The New York Times Magazine. This week, she wrote an opinion column about it in The Los Angeles Times.

bicyclingwithmomrotatorI LOVED HER. It was as simple and as complicated as that. My sister didn’t love her, or she did until she didn’t, but then our mother got sick, we had to care for her, and then things got complicated for everybody. We cared for two different mothers. That’s the shortest explanation for what happened to us. The longer story is far more complex. [click to continue…]

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Joining the Fight, and the Study, Against a Sister’s Disease

by marionroach on January 3, 2009

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WE ALL KNOW that at least one of our New Year’s resolutions should involve the sisterhood–being a better friend, staying in closer touch, listening instead of having only our say. So not to be a nag about this, but here’s another one to add to your list: Get involved in the research to eradicate a sister’s illness. [click to continue…]

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