Page 7 - BoomertimesMay2021

From The May Cover

Boomer Times Book of the Month

& Senior Life Review
3/4 FULL...
Blessings From A New Perspective

Author: Peggy Gaines — Reviewed by Anita Finley, Gerontologist
This book is truly an inspiration. me to understand about life and
When a mother writes about her its fragility. No one is here forever,
precious 17-year-old son who but when one is only 17-years-old,
leaves this Earth so early in his it brings up issues to take notice
life, she has to have the right of...before it is too late.
words, the thoughts that stay in- 3/4 Full is very few in pages,
side, yearning to explode to tell but huge in inspiration, kindness,
how hard it is not to have him creativeness, and passion. The
anymore. Peggy Gaines, a skilled author, Peggy Gaines, dedicates
writer, explains each and every her book to her husband, her
moment from the time that Na- daughter and of course, the reason
than, her son, is diagnosed with she wrote it, to her son, Nathan.
brain cancer. “How can that be?” Each chapter has an appropriate April 30 - May 16, 2021
she thought. I wouldn’t quote that sets the stage
call this a diary of the of the chapter’s mean-
family’s life dealing with ing. Here are a few: “We
their son’s diagnosis, but must let go of the life
when you read it, you will we have planned so as
feel, as I did, a part of to accept the one that’s
the family as it takes you waiting for us” (Joseph
along the path of life’s Campbell); “If it doesn’t
struggles. challenge you, it doesn’t
Every normal parent change you” (Fred Devi-
thinks their child is the to); “For life and death
best, smartest, kindest and the are one even as the river and the
angel they bore. As Peggy tells sea are one” (Khalil Gibran). Also,
us, her son, Nathan, had so many at the end of each chapter, there
of these qualities, from the con- is a lesson. Here is one: “Lesson
versations she described. I never 6...Your life situation will always
knew him, but I felt love and good have challenges. The goal of life
feelings about him. I accompa- is to be present and to try to find May 14-23, 2021
nied them to the many doctors as the lesson the challenge is of-
they searched for answers. It was fering you.” “Lesson 9...Don’t
amazing how well Peggy and her take tomorrow for granted. Don’t
husband managed the situation, wait to tell someone that you
but I didn’t know if Nathan was love them.”
holding them up or if they were After reviewing books for the
the pillars. So why would someone past 20 plus years, I have never
want to read about a sad story read such a beautiful love story of
unless it reminded them of a a family dealing with the loss of
similar situation? Yes, that is one their teenage son. No matter what
good reason, but more than that, your loss, you will appreciate this
since I didn’t lose a child, it helped book.

About the author: May 22, 2021 | $35 | 8PM
Peggy Gaines, RN, BSN, is a nurse educator
and is nationally certified as a Clinical Meditation
Specialist. She has been meditating for 18 years
and has been teaching meditation for 6 years.
She and husband, Michael have two children, �
Heather and Nathan. At 17, Nathan developed a
malignant brain tumor and she relied on meditation to stay calm 713 Lake Avenue, Lake Worth Beach, FL
and focused as she and her husband navigated the care for their www.lakeworthplayhouse.org
son. She and her husband live in Coconut Grove, Florida.
561.586.6410
(Purchase 3/4 FULL on Amazon.com.)
MAY 2021 BoomerTimesFL.com BoomerTimes & SeniorLife / 7