The Great Gatsby

A little later this afternoon, I'm going with a friend and her bookclub- (right, it isn't my bookclub, I'm crashing her bookclub...) to see "The Great Gatsby".


I have held on to Mom's paperback copy of The Great Gatsby since she died.  It was the last book she was reading.  Her bookmark remains right where she left it.  She had already read the book before, and had told me she felt like reading it again.  But, I guess she never made it all the way thru it the second time around.

Mom's paperback copy of The Great Gatsby- notice that the bookmark she used is an angel. 

I remember a while back, someone told me I should look at that page where the bookmark was to see if there were any words or phrases that might hold some significance.  I didn't do it back then, it just seemed too sad.  But about a month ago, I ran across the book and looked at where Mom must have abandoned the book.

words...

And I did notice something significant, that I think would have made Mom just sigh, and put the book down, and opt for a nap instead.  The page she had the bookmark in reads:
"I'm sick," said Wilson without moving. "I've been sick all day."
"What's the matter?"
"I'm all run down."

Mom had ovarian cancer for about 5 years, and put up a long, hard fight against it.  I know Mom was just tired.  Tired of being sick and feeling run down.  Reading those words just probably further exhausted her.

Fortunately, the end of Mom's life seemed relatively peaceful and free of pain, partly due to hospice care, and also I think, due to finally be able to just let nature take it's course with her.  It was sort of a miracle, all the stuff she feared might happen, that was in fact likely to happen, didn't.  For that, I was thankful.  Nature was kind to her as far as that went.

Mom loved the movies.  She was a great movie buddy for me.  I will be thinking, of course, of her when I watch The Great Gatsby today!

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald