A Living Remedy: A Memoir

Once again, I am reminded that maybe I should read the blurb before picking up a book (and still I will continue to not do so 95% of the time because I never learn) because I'm not sure it was a good time for me to read a memoir that's a lot about losing parents.

If you're looking for an adoption story from the perspective of the adopted child that isn't about either demonizing or glorifying adoption this one would be a good choice (adoption isn't necessarily the center of things here but it is an important factor).

Cancer features quite heavily as well as loss in the time of Covid lockdowns (which were treated with a refreshing openness and sense of it is what it is which I found really agreeable).

No rating because I don't rate memoirs.

I feel physically sick to my stomach and my whole body hurts from crying. this took me through the fucking ringer, making me weep for these strangers as well as for my own father now a year and a half gone as well as for my mother who is still around but who i find myself spontaneously crying over a night because dealing with one parents death has left me utterly crippled by the facts of death and how it comes for all of us, even for the ones you love and cant imagine being without. grief is so complex and so individual but there is something warm and comforting about sharing in someone elses, seeing parts of your own mourning reflected back and feeling connected to someone hundreds of miles away that you've never met all because you've shared in this specific kind of loss together, one that we will all have to wade through eventually. but not alone, even if all you've got is a connection through text on a page

This book was so perfect for me at this time. A friend bought this book for me when I was struggling with a very difficult situation. My dad was in the hospital and the doctors said he needed to go into a facility. He became combative and was very confused. It is so hard to be so very far away and unable to help my siblings. I live in Alaska and my dad was in Georgia. I have my own health problems too and making that long trip alone was not a possibility for me. I knew I needed to plan a trip soon or it would be too late but he died a lot sooner than anyone expected. I ended up getting there for his funeral instead. Nicole Chung delt with a similar thing but she lost both parents close together. I started reading this book when my dad was in the hospital and finished it on the plane to Georgia. It was a very emotional read for me but it is a book I will go back to. I am glad I have this book on my kindle so I was able to highlight lines I want to go back to.