August 2025

I am always skeptical when books arrive with tissues and a note that I am going to need them. I wonder when I will have to use them --- the beginning, the middle or the end. Or not at all.

I grabbed WHEN THE CRANES FLY SOUTH by Lisa Ridzén last Sunday and took my usual spot to stand at the side of the pool and read. I know, it’s not your typical way to read a book, but it’s how I’ve been reading these past couple of summers.

Bo is a man who has seen a lot of good years. He’s now living at home with caregivers stopping in around the clock to see to his needs. They write notes about what he has been eating, his mood, and what else they observe as they visit. Bo’s world has become pretty small. His wife is suffering from dementia and is living in a care home. His best friend (being realistic here, the last friend his age who’s alive) lives too far to visit often, though they commiserate on the phone. Bo conjures up memories of their very different worlds, but also the closeness of their lives. When you read it, you will see what I mean.

Bo’s son drops in and out. His granddaughter is around even less often. His most loyal friend is his dog, Sixten. He’s a faithful companion who knows that these days he often has to wait for Bo instead of Bo keeping up with him. But Bo’s son thinks that Sixten is just too much for Bo to have in his life right now. Bo sees Sixten as a protector of his and an ardent companion, while his son considers him to be a liability. When Sixten races off, and Bo follows and is found outside in the cold by a caregiver, the time for Sixten to be rehomed happens swiftly and with little extra conversation.

My dad turns 96 next month, and reading this book I am reminded again of how much smaller his world has become. He lost one of his oldest friends recently, my mom has been gone for three years, and while he is healthy, he definitely has dementia. We have a 24/7 caregiver with him so he can remain in the house that he loves. We recently had him give up driving. And as I was reading this book, I realized again that my dad’s cars and the freedom to go where he wanted was much like what Bo loved about Sixten. It was a chance to feel a sense of being in charge of a life instead of being a pawn in it.

While I think that I have understood how my dad is feeling, Bo’s feelings for the loss of Sixten brought it up all the more clearly. And yes, I reached for the tissues --- sad for Bo, and sad for my dad.

Lisa Ridzén was inspired to write WHEN THE CRANES FLY SOUTH after reading the notes that her father’s caregivers left around. They told her a story about his life, which she was not a part of every day, but one that brought home to her what his days were like. She crafted a beautiful book from similar sentiments --- and then expanded it even further with Sixten.