Structure

Act One: The Setup


This memoir begins by introducing sisters Deborah, Susannah, and Mariam, who are daughters of Beatrice and Joe. These three sisters are very close amongst each other, and they went through a hard time with the deaths of each of their parents (at separate times). Next the early lives of Sarah, Hannah, Rob, and Mariam are looked at more in depth. Early signs of Mariam’s Alzheimer’s is also examined, small things here and there like when she could never get the sliding door to the bathroom at Sarah’s apartment open, and other “weird” behavior. Mariam begins to exhibit strange and moody behavior, and sort of has a midlife crisis when she decides to take Rob and live in Mexico for some time. It is afterwards when Mariam admits she has done research into how she felt and she concluded that she had Alzheimer’s; with the help of medical professionals they also conclude this fact.

Act Two: The Conflict
More memories of the family are looked at throughout this memoir, sort of like flashbacks. Sarah reflects on their Jewish upbringing such as celebrating Hanukah and going to the synagogue for renewal. More signs of Alzheimer’s show up in Mariam, such as randomly walking around the house naked or starting to lose her memory of small things. She could no longer cook for herself or garden independently, instead she depended on Rob. Mariam would wake up in the middle of the night, having the sink full blast and brushing with a dry brush. She became more of a burden on her family in this act. Mariam began writing notes and journals while she could to preserve her writing from when she was healthier; she also came to terms that she would die sooner than she had wanted. Mariam could no longer take care of herself such as bathing herself or using the washroom, in this act her illness became increasingly worse and it took a toll on her family.

Act Three: The Resolution
In the last act Mariam’s life comes to an end after her long and treacherous battle with Alzheimer’s. Mariam could barely talk and she needed someone with her almost 24/7 for close supervision. In the beginning of this act she could still sort of talk but it was more butchered and in pieces, such as saying something like “Sarah! Do you want to look? … I just think it’s so”. Increasingly she would not make much sense. Mariam was having a harder time to communicate properly to her family and so in turn her family had a hard time with trying to care for Mariam. Ultimately Mariam is put into a nursing home so she could be better cared for, and she spent the last portion of her life there before she died. Her family is very sad of Mariam’s death but they are also relieved that Mariam is now at peace.