I'm hearing from many of you that you think this book might make a good Christmas or Hanukah gift. The story of our family's love and the music that fills our lives is heartwarming and one that can be shared with people of all ages.
In fact, Dr. Oliver Sacks, the well-known neurologist who wrote the foreward to my book, writes about my family and the impact my father and his music has made on his holiday season in the December issue of O magazine.
So much has happened since the book came out. My first interview about the book was on The Today Show, followed by the Diane Rehm show on National Public Radio. Since then, I've been interviewed for newspapers, magazines, and radio and t.v. stations across the country. Since the release of the book, I've been giving lectures about the gifts of coming home to help take care of a loved one with Alzheimer's disease, and about the special connection music can create between caregivers and people living with Alzheimer's.
As a result of the book, acapella groups throughout the nation have begun organizing performances at residential facilities that treat the elderly, particularly those with Alzheimer's disease.
My perspective on the positive impact of music on people living with Alzheimer's disease is the topic of an article to be published in the March 2009 issue of Prevention Magazine.
As the holiday season approaches, I'd like to thank all of you for your support and encouragement and for the stories you have been willing to share with me of the struggles and triumphs of taking care of a loved one who needs you.
Happy Holidays,
Mary Ellen
