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Blainie's Carpet Barn: Becoming My Father's Father
Blainie's Carpet Barn is a riveting account of the love between an aging father and his son. Peter Gorham revels in the life his father has lived, not just as a carpet salesman, but as a friend to everyone he encountered. Blaine was a man of true and unfailing faith, a lover of literature, a lover of life. When, after nearly a century on this earth, Blaine's health begins to fail, Peter unwittingly transforms from student to teacher, friend to advocate, child to parent.
405 pages, Paperback
First published February 12, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 12, 2014
What a beautiful story. Non fiction,Gorham chronicles the final years of his father's life. He takes us along and we witness his parents moving form their home into a senior care facility, losing their auto and their independence, losing friends, losing physical abilities and finally, losing mental faculties. We witness the struggles and the indignities that old age dishes out to anyone sturdy enough to reach it. And we are witness to the difficulties heaped on the elderly and on their caregivers when the insurance companies deny payment for things that would make life so much better.
Right now, you might be wondering why anyone would want to read a story about that. The thing is, even though it's a story about aging and it ultimately goes where all of us will, it's more so a story about love, about a boy and his father (and his mom), about caring, about family, about understanding, and about patience.
Gorham's voice was made to write this! He's plainspoken, yet his intelligence comes through loud and clear. The story shows a gentle patience with his father, and a quiet and humble acceptance of his aging parents' increased frailty.
Blainie had a golden sense of humor into his old age, and Gorham wrote it well.
The book made me feel like I missed knowing a true gem of a man--Blainie, and glad that he had a son--the author. I wish that we all could be so honored to have a wonderful recollection written about us after we've gone.
Right now, you might be wondering why anyone would want to read a story about that. The thing is, even though it's a story about aging and it ultimately goes where all of us will, it's more so a story about love, about a boy and his father (and his mom), about caring, about family, about understanding, and about patience.
Gorham's voice was made to write this! He's plainspoken, yet his intelligence comes through loud and clear. The story shows a gentle patience with his father, and a quiet and humble acceptance of his aging parents' increased frailty.
Blainie had a golden sense of humor into his old age, and Gorham wrote it well.
The book made me feel like I missed knowing a true gem of a man--Blainie, and glad that he had a son--the author. I wish that we all could be so honored to have a wonderful recollection written about us after we've gone.
February 20, 2013
A must read for all of us with aging parents. The honesty and love in this book is humbling. I highly recommend it.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews