This book was such a pleasant surprise, I had no idea the story takes place in a retirement home, not that it diminishes the enjoyment, I simply haven't read books with that background before even though I'm well familiar with such a place. My favorite character, really witty and hilarious Margaret made this book a real pleasure to read, I simply couldn't wait to get back into it, to see what she would reveal to me as her days pass by. Living in a place where holidays are depressing she befriends Bernice and watches over her friend while trying to deal with her own aging body and mind. The ladies get into all sorts of innocent trouble but all under a watchful eye of a nurse who has a heart of gold. When a hair dresser gets hired to help out with the overall feeling of happiness in the place, unusual bonds and friendships start up with people she thought she had very little in common with.

Bernice and Margaret's youth is revisited in stories and they realize that their future is shaped by their past. People whose parents are in the home remember meeting them when they were just kids and suddenly remember the old days gone by, sweet and little sorrowful the novel is heartwarming and actually really funny in parts, that just proves that good humor and wonderful story telling doesn't stop with books about your people, everyone has a story to tell and time only adds more flavor.