The Goldfish Went on Vacation: A Memoir of Loss (and Learning to Tell the Truth about It) - Paperback

by Patty Dann (Author), Sallie Sanborn (Afterword by)

The moment when Patty Dann's husband was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, she felt as though the ground had dropped out beneath her. Her grief, however, was immediately interrupted by the realization that she would have to tell their three-year-old son, Jake, that his father was dying. The prognosis gave her husband just a year to live. In that short time, the three of them--Patty, Willem, and Jake--would have to find a way to live with the illness and prepare for his death.

Written with disarming honesty, courage, and humor, Patty weaves together a series of vignettes that chart her and Jake's eventual acceptance of their new family--through coping with the daily challenges, the sorrow, and the uncertainty, as well as embracing the surprising moments of beauty and acceptance. As much about exploring memory as it is about appreciating the moment, this captivating narrative will serve as a genuine comfort to anyone surprised by grief.

Author Biography

Patty Dann is the author of Sweet & Crazy; Mermaids, which was turned into a film starring Cher, Winona Ryder, and Christina Ricci; and The Baby Boat, an account of her own experiences adopting a child from Lithuania. Her articles have appeared in the New York Times, O magazine, Redbook, More magazine, and the Chicago Tribune. She has an MFA in writing from Columbia University and a BA from the University of Oregon. She and her son currently live in New York City.