Publication Day: Marissa shows off her copy of MEMORY’S LAST BREATH: FIELD NOTES ON MY DEMENTIA

This morning Newton showed off his e-book version of MEMORY’S LAST BREATH.

The fiction writer in me makes a story out of the 2 photos I received and a memory that popped into my head today–from their childhood in South Africa:

Newton was 2 and Marissa four and they were playing outside under our big plane tree in the back garden. Marissa found a breakfast-plate-sized leaf, and Newton said, “M’issa I furiously angry, you always find the biggest leaf!” (Afrikaans: “M’issa, ek woedend kwaad, jy altyd die grootste blaar kry.”)

Newton and Marissa with our dogs, Liewe Heks and Kwaaitjie, in our garden in Parktown North, Johannesburg.

Sibling rivalry transposed across three decades and 10,000 miles:

Newton: I sent my picture off to Mom first.

Marissa: Yes, but my book cover is in color.