Alzheimer's Association (www.alz.org). This is the best place to start. This site provides information and support for not only those afflicted by Alzheimer's but also those who care for the patient or family member.
Mayo Clinic (www.mayoclinic.com/health/alzheimers-disease/DS00161). Click on the "In Depth" tab for a good look at early-onset Alzheimer's. Also, check out the "Resources" section for many more links to helpful information.
Everyday Health (www.everydayhealth.com/info/v1ss/ alzheimer's). This site has a nice section on Alzheimer's, including information on nontraditional therapies such as music, pet therapy, art, and other recreational activities.
Family Caregiver Alliance (www.caregiver.org). This is an organization dedicated to the support of those who care for loved ones with chronic, disabling health issues.
Discussion Questions
When Natalie's husband demands a divorce, he not only crushes her spirit but also destroys her career. At least, that's how she sees it. Could Natalie have continued speaking and writing about happy marriages after her own fell apart? How would you advise her?
Natalie and Tony tried without success to have a baby. Tony thought if God wanted them to have a baby, they would, without any outside help. Natalie was determined to do whatever it took. What do you think? Which viewpoint makes the most sense to you?
When Natalie sees Lindsay for the first time in years, she assumes her sister has a black eye because her boyfriend is abusing her. Why do you think Natalie jumped to that conclusion? In that type of situation, is it better to assume the worst and apologize later? What would you have done?
The whole idea of the trip down the Mother Road comes from a clerk at the Automobile Club. Natalie sees it as a kind of divine inspiration. Have you ever been in a similar situation? Has God ever used a stranger to point you in the direction He wanted you to go?
The sisters stop at a lot of quirky places along the way, making it a trip they won't soon forget. Have you gone on a trip like that with friends or family? Do you want to? What's your idea of the perfect road trip?
When they arrive at their parents' house, Lindsay and Natalie are shocked by their mother's lack of recognition. Natalie wonders, If a mother loves you, but she doesn't remember she loves you, does that love still exist? What do you think?
Natalie hopes to prod her mother's memory by reintroducing a favorite old pastime: jigsaw puzzles. In this case, there was some success. But Alzheimer's is different for every person who deals with it. Have you had any experience with someone suffering from Alzheimer's? What advice would you give someone whose loved one was recently diagnosed?
There's an almost immediate attraction between Natalie and Adam. What do you think about the idea that Natalie's marriage was over as soon as Tony cheated and that the rest was a legal technicality? Does that give her the freedom to pursue a new relationship? Or is she right in thinking that, until her divorce is final, anything beyond friendship with Adam is wrong?
When Natalie returns to California, Tony makes a lastditch effort to get her back. Why do you think he did that? Was Natalie right to forgive him and send him back to Erin, or should she have chosen to take him back and try to make the marriage work?
The book ends with Natalie and Lindsay coming to the last stop on their trip down the Mother Road. Except it's not the end at all. What do you think happens next? How would you continue their stories?
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