October 5, 2017:  

Someone asked me recently how it came about that I cared for my parents. Here is a partial explanation, from my book:

trish as a 5 year old caregiver

"Over the last three years, as their health had declined and my father had lost most of his sight, I had traveled back and forth from Washington to Florida with increasing frequency. Based on my undeniable history as a caregiver, I didn’t even question my role. From the beginning, I dressed my Tiny Tears doll in a warm coat to go outside and in snuggly pajamas for bed. I bathed, brushed, and tucked Bluey and Sugarfoot, my stuffed dogs, under the covers with their muzzles peeking out just enough to sniff fresh air. Over the last three years, as their health had declined and my father had lost most of his sight, I had traveled back and forth from Washington to Florida with increasing frequency.

Based on my undeniable history as a caregiver, I didn’t even question my role. From the beginning, I dressed my Tiny Tears doll in a warm coat to go outside and in snuggly pajamas for bed. I bathed, brushed, and tucked Bluey and Sugarfoot, my stuffed dogs, under the covers with their muzzles peeking out just enough to sniff fresh air.   

I still have them. I indulged my pets with every comfort. I had cared for my dental hygiene patients with my full heart and soul. After fifty years of nurturing anything in my proximity, politically correct or not, I had conceded that I was a caregiver. I didn’t analyze or defend it; it was the character card I’d been dealt, and I played it when it was my turn.”

- Trish

 

(First photo is Trish with Tiny Tears in 1957.)

sugarfoot and bluey in 2017Sugarfoot and Bluey in 2017 

 

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While They're Still Here

is now available
Link to She Writes Press

 

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Publicity contact: Crystal Patriarche (crystal@booksparkspr.com)

 

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