C-Sharp Minor

"Her life was a song." Thus did Mom's obituary sum her up. Seventeen years before her death, however, that song began to change, shifting into darker and eventually agitated tones. Still, up until the end, it never ceased. Here is the full course of her illness: Initial subtle changes, increasing memory loss, paranoia, agitation, delusions, and frustrated helplessness but also faith, humor, and "diamonds," those occasional bright and beautiful moments glittering amidst the coal. Ultimately,...