Wonders in Dementialand Quotes

“This woman had no idea who I was. She has no idea I was once a smoker, was thrown out of boarding school twice and a certified rebel with strong opinions. To her, I was new, fresh, immaculate to the bone. This was all strangely wonderful.”
― Suzka, Wonders in Dementialand: An Artist's Intimate and Whimsical Account of Dementia, Memory Loss, Caregiving and Dancing Gypsies

“In Dementialand I was able to see for miles without the yesterdays and tomorrows obstructing my view. It was difficult and so simple all at the same time.”
― Suzka, Wonders in Dementialand: An Artist's Intimate and Whimsical Account of Dementia, Memory Loss, Caregiving and Dancing Gypsies

“I saw my mother with eyes opened and not curtained by her motherhood or my ego.”
― Suzka, Wonders in Dementialand: An Artist's Intimate and Whimsical Account of Dementia, Memory Loss, Caregiving and Dancing Gypsies

“The idea of disassociating from one’s surrounding, of taking a step back was rather clever on my mother’s part without her notice.”
― Suzka, Wonders in Dementialand: An Artist's Intimate and Whimsical Account of Dementia, Memory Loss, Caregiving and Dancing Gypsies

“She looked like some damn fool angel that didn't even know the name of God.”
― Suzka, Wonders in Dementialand: An Artist's Intimate and Whimsical Account of Dementia, Memory Loss, Caregiving and Dancing Gypsies

“Violet kept her visits private and never told me where she went. I really never asked. I believed the dementias gave her special powers.”
― Suzka, Wonders in Dementialand: An Artist's Intimate and Whimsical Account of Dementia, Memory Loss, Caregiving and Dancing Gypsies

“Violet wasn't sure what she was saying. Words fell out of her mouth with no mind and no malice.”
― Suzka, Wonders in Dementialand: An Artist's Intimate and Whimsical Account of Dementia, Memory Loss, Caregiving and Dancing Gypsies

“An angel with dark hair caught Violet. His soft curls were loosely pulled back and tied together at the base of his neck. He wore Jesus sandals made by Nike.”
― Suzka, Wonders in Dementialand: An Artist's Intimate and Whimsical Account of Dementia, Memory Loss, Caregiving and Dancing Gypsies

“There were thousands of secrets hidden in her purse, secrets and memories that took her elsewhere. She held onto them tightly and kept them to herself. Even God did not know of them.”
― Suzka, Wonders in Dementialand: An Artist's Intimate and Whimsical Account of Dementia, Memory Loss, Caregiving and Dancing Gypsies

“Violet screamed into her pillow so loudly she scared herself. Her head hurt. It was as if all her memories were trying to kick their way out. They were finished and wanted to leave.”
― Suzka, Wonders in Dementialand: An Artist's Intimate and Whimsical Account of Dementia, Memory Loss, Caregiving and Dancing Gypsies

“Violet believed that Jewish people made good doctors and lawyers, a thought that came to the front of her head suggesting she might need one.”
― Suzka, Wonders in Dementialand: An Artist's Intimate and Whimsical Account of Dementia, Memory Loss, Caregiving and Dancing Gypsies

“So began a kind of magic in Dementialand that took place most nights after the day’s sun went down.”
― Suzka, Wonders in Dementialand: An Artist's Intimate and Whimsical Account of Dementia, Memory Loss, Caregiving and Dancing Gypsies

“My mother had a way of accessing the energy of the people around her. There was no need to know their name, who they were or how she knew them. She didn’t recognize their surface. She went much deeper.”
― Suzka, Wonders in Dementialand: An Artist's Intimate and Whimsical Account of Dementia, Memory Loss, Caregiving and Dancing Gypsies

“They lived with us. Maybe there were twenty or more. At one time I counted 28.”
― Suzka, Wonders in Dementialand: An Artist's Intimate and Whimsical Account of Dementia, Memory Loss, Caregiving and Dancing Gypsies

“The lady roommate said very little and chopped off the better parts of her story.”
― Suzka, Wonders in Dementialand: An Artist's Intimate and Whimsical Account of Dementia, Memory Loss, Caregiving and Dancing Gypsies

“Her memories got dizzy and fell out of her head.”
― Suzka, Wonders in Dementialand: An Artist's Intimate and Whimsical Account of Dementia, Memory Loss, Caregiving and Dancing Gypsies

“Her eyes were trained to see the missing parts of the world.”
― Suzka, Wonders in Dementialand: An Artist's Intimate and Whimsical Account of Dementia, Memory Loss, Caregiving and Dancing Gypsies

“My mother made that dress. She’s somewhere in its unsettling pattern.”
― Suzka, Wonders in Dementialand: An Artist's Intimate and Whimsical Account of Dementia, Memory Loss, Caregiving and Dancing Gypsies

“Violet unwrapped everything old as if it were a ribboned gift given to her by the Gods.”
― Suzka, Wonders in Dementialand: An Artist's Intimate and Whimsical Account of Dementia, Memory Loss, Caregiving and Dancing Gypsies

“There is magic just outside our memory.”
― Suzka, Wonders in Dementialand: An Artist's Intimate and Whimsical Account of Dementia, Memory Loss, Caregiving and Dancing Gypsies

“Screams broke the holy deadness in the church. "Violet, vwaht on God’s earth happen to you?"... "Oh Lord, she'za been mugga." The rank of service reversed its order. The ladies were now the apostles of the moment.”
― Suzka, Wonders in Dementialand: An Artist's Intimate and Whimsical Account of Dementia, Memory Loss, Caregiving and Dancing Gypsies

“It all started with that damn fall. My mother pressed a full roll of paper towels against her head to stop the bleeding and drove to church. Her fall and bloody eye would have been a poor excuse to the Gods who appreciated the sacrifices of a good martyr.”
― Suzka, Wonders in Dementialand: An Artist's Intimate and Whimsical Account of Dementia, Memory Loss, Caregiving and Dancing Gypsies