Live As If: A teacher's love story

by Frye Gaillard

In the most deeply personal writing of his long career, award-winning author Frye Gaillard reflects on the life and work of his wife Nancy, who died of leukemia in 2018. Partly the memoir of a vibrant marriage, Live As If... tells the story of Nancy's work as a public school teacher, principal, and professor during a time of education under siege. "It's a story of what can go right," Gaillard says.

144 pages, Paperback

Published November 26, 2020

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not a long book (about an hour and a half total), but it is a special book. It's a rememberance from the writer Frye Gaillard for his wife, Dr. Nancy Gaillard, who passed away much too soon at 70 years of age from leukemia in the summer of 2018. It's a moving read that might bring you to tears, but it's not meant to be tearful, as much as a loving retrospective about a wonderul human being who brought joy to so many people and a reminder about all the good there is to be found in one lifetime. Dr. Nancy Gaillard was an educator -teacher and principal, and went back to school for her doctorate in her early 60s, because she felt like the time was right. Her positive can-do attitude carried her along life's currents and buoyed all who crossed her path.
Buy this book and keep it on your bookshelf as a rememberance to give thanks for your life, for the teachers in our lives as well as others who work so tirelessly to make life better.
You will feel as if you knew Nancy yourself, and may think of people in your own life that have that amazing ability to listen to others, to respond with a generous spirit, and who somehow are always like a ray of sunshine. For those people in Nancy's orbit, they were blessed indeed by her beautiful and uplifting spirit.

[Allison Malter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Frye Gaillard's tribute to his wife Nancy, a remarkable woman who met life and death with humor, resilience and determination. Her favorite quote was from Gandhi: "Live life as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever." It is a fitting title and description of her life.