My Mother Remembers

Introduction My mother was a great reader. From the time that I was a young child one of our favourite outings together was to the public library in our neighbourhood. We would walk, at first holding hands, then, later, when I was older, side by side, and, later still, I would walk alone while she stayed home. In her old age—she lived until 102—she spent most waking hours napping on a couch and reading until she could no longer see. The light bothers my eyes she would say.