Just Call Me "Myrt"

My mother-or "Myrt" as she prefers to be called-entered Sunset Manor nursing home in Waverly, Kansas at 100 years old. When asked what she was most proud of in the initial "conversation circle," Myrt claimed, "I once killed a farmer with a pitchfork!" Of course the tale was a complete fabrication . . . but it shut down any further "interrogation!" Outrageous bits like this have kept the staff of Sunset Manor laughing and on their toes. Several of these devoted professionals have told me, "You ought to write a book!" So I did. These stories were initially intended to capture mom's unabashed personality and to acquaint the staff of with their new resident. As dementia has robbed mom of her memory, I wanted to share both the humor of the stories and the challenges of the illness with a wider audience and to raise funds for Sunset Manor, which has been instrumental in Myrt's well-being and longevity. As the staff discovers daily, Myrt still is a unique character at the age of 107!