Remember Me as Human by Lucy Walsh

I loved this book because it is the true-life story of a young woman who took the time to get to know her grandmother at the end of her life. This is not something you see every day, in a world where youth so often is valued more than age, wisdom and experience. However, in "Remember Me as Human," author Walsh takes a true interest in her grandmother Wanda, in an effort to share her story with the reader. It all started when Lucy was just 17 years old, and was given 63 love letters her Grandfather Dale wrote to her Grandmother Wanda while he was overseas fighting in World War II. Wanda's letters to Dale were lost overseas, and some even burned when he moved from town to town, but 63 of his letters to her survived. Years later, Lucy decides to go to Newman, Illinois, and spend a few days with Wanda at her assisted living, asking her questions and getting to see her life in a larger context. Wanda, 97 years old at the time, shares memories of her own youth, and later marriage to Dale. Walsh digests these stories and weaves them in with her own stories about her mother, and her two fathers. What makes this book so rich, is the genuine interest Lucy has in Wanda's history and the time she takes to collect so many stories from her grandmother's past. "Remember Me as Human," is the story of Lucy and Wanda and so many generations of granddaughters and grandmothers who are so lucky to get the chance to spend time together, even for a short time. Lucy was a friend of my dad's, and I'm so glad I got to meet her, too. She has written a beautiful book. To buy this book on Amazon click here.