Changing My Mind
As you know I am a fast reader, usually finishing a book in twenty-four hours or less. If it doesn’t intrigue me little time is wasted and if it does then it is worth a reread.
My week as Queen of Hamilton is almost up – the family returns tomorrow evening from Disney and I will once again take up my royal residence in Kitchener. My subjects in the last seven days have been; Bree the yellow, eating everything plastic or metal in sight Lab, Jack a white blue eyed but deaf very social entity cat, and Jewels also a white but I don’t think deaf, and a Queen onto herself cat who frankly does not give a damn.
I came prepared with my iPad and journal and books, however the first night I saw a book on the dresser called ‘Changing My Mind’ by Margaret Trudeau. For my non Canadian friends who may not have heard of her, Margaret was a way too young hippy in the sixties who caught the eye and captured the heart of our then Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, who was I think twenty-nine years her senior. Sort of a Charles and Diana scenario in the extreme.
Anyway it turns out that our free thinking pot smoking, very sexual heroine suffers from bipolar illness. This is a very serious illness and obviously a popular one since some of the ‘stars’ of late have glamorized it. Are you listening Catherine Zeta Jones? I am surprised Lindsay Lohan has not laid claim to it to excuse her behavior.
As a nurse I have seen the effects of this horrible affliction, patients finally balanced with medication who when they are feeling their best decide they feel so good they do not need their medication. It is an ongoing cycle and I can only applaud those in their never ending struggle. For a struggle it is.
When I first started reading this book I was tempted to put it down a dozen times. Just another public figure always using the same excuse ….oh I did drugs and had affairs (including Teddy Kennedy) and embarrassed myself and my family countless times because I was ill. Oh poor me.
It took me a whole week to finish this book, to put aside my judgements on public manipulation. I put it down and swore I would not finish it again and again.
In the last three chapters Margaret makes her point, and I am glad I hung in there till the end. It wasn’t easy. It is not an easy book to read.
So all in all, I am glad I was not the one changing her mind!
Yesterday my post on S. C. Barrus at awayandaway.com was my 100th post. I am not sure it merits recognition..just saying..
bridgesburning 