How did Velma's mother decide to quit drinking? She looked in the mirror and knew she didn't want to die in that condition.
How did they help their mother stop drinking? Went on long walks with her.
What job did she get and how long did she work? Janitor at an office building for more than five years.
What was the aftermath of her addiction? Her children hadn't grown up.
Has everyone in her family started the healing process? No.
Respond to these in your journal.
“I saw how the people at the Goodwill store cared for people who needed a helping hand. But I also saw that the people who needed a helping hand were used to getting this kind of help, and therefore they would not help themselves.” What does the author mean by this statement?
“The people here were just simple souls trying to live a peaceful existence within their comfort zone.” What do you think this statement means?
Do you think we can change other people? Can we help others if they aren't willing or able to help themselves? Think about how Mae quit drinking? Did she do it for anyone else?
“Children of alcoholics are stunted mentally, emotionally, and spiritually along with the addicted person. We thought that Mom was the one with the problem. But after she sobered up, we had to begin the same process of gaining sobriety.” What does this mean? Have you seen this happen to other people?
A simile is a comparison between two things (nouns) using specific words such as like, as or than. For example:
We were like Neegoofgwandah when it had been ravaged by fire back in 1968.
What does Velma mean by this? Can you find more similes in the chapter?