Water For Elephants

A book review by Ann Marie Grumm, 2013
In addition to contemplations about aging and old age, there are some really tender moments and some pretty raw moments in this book !!  

Alternating between being in his early 90's and in a nursing home to being in his early 20's with the circus (whenever he nods off), our main character, the protagonist, is developing a simpatico with one of his nurses.   

"What, now I have no sense of humor?"

But I am grumpy. Grumpy because maybe I don't.  I don't anymore.  I'm so used to being scolded and herded and managed and handled that I am no longer sure how to react when someone treats me like a real person.


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Chapter 8, 5, 1

Age is a terrible thief. Just when you're getting the hang of life, it knocks your legs out from under you and stoops your back.  It makes you ache and muddies your head and silently spreads cancer throughout your spouse.

I use to think I preferred getting old to the alternative, but now I'm not sure.  Sometimes the monotony of bingo and sing-alongs and ancient dusty people parked in the hallway in wheelchairs makes me long for death.  Particularly when I remember that I'm one of the ancient dusty people, filed away like some worthless tchotchke.

But there's nothing to be done about it.  All I can do is put in time waiting for the inevitable, observing as the ghosts of my past rattle around my vacuous present.