Somehow knowing that Alzheimer's is coming mocks all one's aspirations - to tell stories to think through certain issues as only a novel can do to be recognised for one's accomplishments and hard work - in a way that old familiar death does not.

For a culture that has such a problem with death we seem to deal with it in a quite bizarre way. We see people shot killed and blown up and we find it funny and sexy and all those things. But the reality of it is that every day people die and people are really sad and they grieve and they go through a really difficult process with it.

It is long since I could have adventured on eternity through God's mercy and Christ's merits but death remained somewhat terrible and that now is taken away and now death is no more to me but to cast myself into my husband's arms and to lie down with Him.

I can choose to accelerate my disease to an alcoholic death or incurable insanity or I can choose to live within my thoroughly human condition.

Disease insanity and death were the angels that attended my cradle and since then have followed me throughout my life.

I mean I'm 48 years old and I've been through a lot in my life - you know loss whether it be death illness separation. I mean the failed expectations... We all have dreams.

Families survive one way or another. You have a tie a connection that exists long after death through many lifetimes.

Buddhas move freely through birth and death appearing and disappearing at will.

I was brought up by very witty people who were dealing with quite difficult things: disease and death... I was brought up by people who tended to giggle at funerals.

Madness need not be all breakdown. It may also be break-through. It is potential liberation and renewal as well as enslavement and existential death.