New Book

While I was wondering what to write about next, my sister Sharon was in a quandary as to whether or not to retire. So after many discussions and a little math she was on the edge of doing it. Then her doctor pushed her over the edge and told her to retire. So on November first 2008 she retired. At the same time our discussions about her work led me to the next project. So starting on the day after she retired we agreed to collaborate on a project. What is it you say? Well Sharon spent the past twenty three years of her life working as a care giver for mental patients. I guess the politically correct label is Mentally challenged persons.
I was aware of some of the trials and tribulations that she had gone through over the years but not to the extent that I now know and am learning about. The book is a biographical sketch of her life as it pertains to her work and about the patients and other caregivers during this time. There is also a lawsuit brought against the state by her that will be included together with the difficulties she had while the suit was going on and while she continued to work and advocate for her clients. Some of the details of this I cannot divulge until we get the go ahead from the attorney. But what we can put in the book we will put in the book.
Many people believe that closing institutions for the mentally handicapped is a good thing. After listening to Sharon I have come to believe the opposite. The reasons for my belief will be outlined in the book and there are many.
The title for the book comes from an incident that occurred on the first day of her employment and will be used many times throughout the book. "Such a simple task". We are currently looking for an agent to represent this work as we work on it and hope to have a finished product by the end of 2009.
Sharon's goal in this is to shed light on a subject and a people who have been in the shadows for many, many generations. Although they are challenged, they are still people with unique personalities and their treatment should be according to the respect and courtesy accorded a normal person.
So here is to a great project and to a good understanding of another side of life.