Laughing Through the Tears

Book excerpt: Laughing Through the Tears Shortly after Eric Haywood's retirement party, he and Crystal, his wife of twenty-eight years, embark on the first of several trips they planned long before he retired. When they reach their hotel in Las Vegas, both are more excited than two kids on their first trip to Disneyland. But a few hours later their excitement is over-shadowed by Eric's strange and unexpected behavior. Crystal is use to Eric's sometimes funny sometimes crazy antics but this newest episode both angers and alarms her. After returning home to prepare for their next venture, a seven day cruise, Crystal and Eric keep a scheduled appointment with their doctor. Crystal decides to put the episode in Vegas behind them and does not mention it to Dr. Winters. Their cruise proves to be more exciting than they ever dreamed and the two emerge happier and more in love than ever. When they return, Crystal is not prepared for Dr. Winters' diagnosis; Eric has dementia. Crystal refuses to believe that all the years they've spent loving each other and raising their four children will soon be erased from Eric's memory causing their lives to change forever. Crystal goes from a state of frustration and denial to understanding and acceptance. With the help of her children, her best friend Sherry and her next door neighbor Dorothy, Crystal learns to laugh in spite of her tears.