Love at Last Sight: A Memoir Posing as a Novel

Love at Last Sight is the intimate tale of Ockie and Clair Bloomberg from their first meeting to their fortieth year together. At first, things go well-even uncommonly well-but after thirty years, Clair is diagnosed with cognitive deficits. As time goes on, greater and greater deficiencies appear and they notice not only that nouns and names have slipped away but that her sight is vanishing, as well.

They try to cope by hiring help, but Clair's memory slips away and she's no longer safe at home. This means a commitment to the memory unit of a long-term care facility violating Ockie's repeated promises that she will always remain at home.

The evaluation, the commitment, and then the move are the most difficult things either has ever suffered but they manage the transition because of the mutual affection and uncommon trust they've shared since their earliest days. Still, the struggle tests them like nothing they've ever experienced throughout their long lives together.

Ockie and Clair's journey is a test of character and their mutual bond. Unfortunately, it's the journey and the struggle that an increasing number of couples must face as each generation of otherwise bright and cheerful souls becomes aged and infirm.