Overview

A daughter’s memoir of sacrifice and discovery as her ailing mother’s caretaker is “an inspiring story of love, loss and the ravages of aging” (Kirkus). Like all mothers, mine had a set of maxims that she thought were important to impart to me: if you can’t say anything nice, then don’t say anything at all (unless it’s irresistibly funny); it’s as easy to fall in love with a rich man as it is with a poor man (a nice idea in theory); if you want to commit suicide, wait until tomorrow (advice which has, it turns out, saved my life). Like many daughters of elderly parents, Pat MacEnulty finds herself in a maze of healthcare negotiations and surprising discoveries when her mother can no longer care for herself. Pat’s mother, who stood by her through her darkest years, was a small-town icon as a composer, pianist, organist, and musical director. She is suddenly unable to be the accomplished, independent person she once was. Now Pat has two goals: to help her daughter avoid the mistakes that derailed her own life, and to see her mother’s masterpiece, “An American Requiem,” find a new life and a new audience in her mother’s lifetime. Along the way, Pat rediscovers her own strength, humor, and rebelliousness at the most unlikely moments.

Full Product Details

9781558617018

Table of Contents

Reviews

""Wait Until Tomorrow is a profound story about life and love and loss, growing up and growing old, holding on and letting go. There is a song of beauty and truth on every page."" —Cheryl Strayed, author of Wild ""An inspiring story of love, loss and the ravages of aging."" —Kirkus ""Pat MacEnulty provides an honest, searing look at how her mother—a distinguished musician bursting with energy and wit—enters the last frontier of her life, still demanding the spotlight though its glow now comes from her talented, overworked daughter. There is urgency here: desires that can never be satisfied, illnesses that must be survived, love that pulls at the boundaries of hope and despair and yet stubbornly persists. Beautifully written, this is a poignant, necessary book!"" —Patricia Foster, author of All the Lost Girls “A spare, disciplined prose that no one will be able to read without thinking of Hemingway. But MacEnulty has made the style her own…Every story is a new demonstration that MacEnulty has that rare ability to convince, wholly, in very few words.” —The Observer ""This beautiful book about death and dying, written from the point of view of a daughter, a caregiver who was wise enough to care about her own life, is also a lively and even funny book."" —Kate Millet, author of Mother Millet

Wait Until Tomorrow is a profound story about life and love and loss, growing up and growing old, holding on and letting go. There is a song of beauty and truth on every page. Cheryl Strayed, author of Wild An inspiring story of love, loss and the ravages of aging. Kirkus Reviews Pat MacEnulty provides an honest, searing look at how her mothera distinguished musician bursting with energy and witenters the last frontier of her life, still demanding the spotlight though its glow now comes from her talented, overworked daughter. There is urgency here: desires that can never be satisfied, illnesses that must be survived, love that pulls at the boundaries of hope and despair and yet stubbornly persists. Beautifully written, this is a poignant, necessary book! Patricia Foster, author of All the Lost Girls A spare, disciplined prose that no one will be able to read without thinking of Hemingway. But MacEnulty has made the style her ownEvery story is a new demonstration that MacEnulty has that rare ability to convince, wholly, in very few words. The Observer MacEnulty writes with sympathy, wisdom andan unexpected blessinghumor. The Guardian (on From May to December ) This beautiful book about death and dying, written from the point of view of a daughter, a caregiver who was wise enough to care about her own life, is also a lively and even funny book. Kate Millet

Author Information

Pat MacEnulty is a teacher, writing coach, and freelance editor. She holds a Ph.D. from the Creative Writing Program at Florida State University. MacEnulty is the author of four novels, including Sweet Fire (2004), Time to Say Goodbye (2006), From May to December (2007), Picara (2009), and the short story collection The Language of Sharks (2004). Her interviews, short stories, essays, poems, and plays have appeared in The Sun and other publications. From 1995 to 2002 she facilitated writing and drama workshops for prisoners as well as at-risk juveniles. MacEnulty currently resides in Charlotte, North Carolina.

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