Eggs In Purgatory

Eggs In Purgatory is a memoir that starts with a suicide attempt by Genanne Walsh’s 89-year-old father, who is living in her home. He did not have a terminal illness but wished to die. He obstinately dragged her along with little regard for the effects on her, or any remorse. Since he lived in her home, he put her in legal danger with his desire to die. After seeking to put her dad on hospice, the police got involved.

As Walsh desperately tried to keep it together in her new job and caring for dad, her partner was dealing with a parent across the country with progressing cancer. They barely had time to eat or support each other, much less mourn for the declining parents and the accumulating losses.

Next, Walsh’s father decided to stop eating, which once again put her in a dilemma. Was she responsible for reporting him for his own safety; if not, did that make her an irresponsible, neglectful caregiver? After a trip to the hospital emergency room, a heart condition was discovered that made it legally allowable for him to not eat. In a few day he was transferred to an inpatient hospice. After he was there two weeks, Walsh prayed, “Please die.” Then she was consumed with guilt and anxiety, stunned, exhausted, and weeping. After he died, she felt wrung out.

This long-form essay is a smart, raw, and real page turner, at times stunningly witty. Walsh cares for her father through ups and downs, with conflicted feelings about his eventual dying process. This is an honest and incredible picture of an all-consuming, soul-rendering, unforgettable time. Her descriptions of how stressful life became—maintaining a home, relationship, and career—were devastating. She was honest about what a difficult and confusing time this was. Due to the stress of it and her father’s wishes, she at times prayed for it just to be over.

This is a story for any human who might ever have to care for another person, especially an aging parent. It offers universal truths to teach that one is not alone in this sometimes-difficult time of life. I was fascinated and was left wanting more, more, more.