Moray book launch: A daughter's book about her dad and dementia
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When her dad began going missing during lockdown Traci O'Dea was separated from him by the Atlantic.
Her 73-year-old dad, Tommy, has dementia.
A painter who lives in the American city of Baltimore, he kept disappearing without trace – once for nearly a week.
In addition, having been clean of drugs for the previous 20 years, Tommy's medical condition caused him to begin seeking them out once more.
With travel restrictions in place, Traci had to wait five months before she was able to fly over to see him.
The stresses of the period have been encapsulated in Restricted Movement, a book of poems which is having its launch this Thursday evening in Lossiemouth.
Published by Scotland Street Press, it's Traci's first book.
What's more, the illustrations are all paintings by Tommy.
Traci says: "My dad is an intelligent guy who's able to hide the fact he has dementia.
"It's not immediately obvious to people there's anything wrong with him.
"One time when he went missing it turned out he'd managed to book himself into a motel.
"The book might sound like a difficult read – but it's not.
"I think there's warmth and a bit of humour there too."
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Restricted Movement
No order tells my dad what he can’t do.
You’d think he’d be the one most used to it,
but prison didn’t break him, only made him value freedom more.
He disappears for days, to prove the laws do not apply to him.
Each time, my heart sours, afizz like blue-green algae film on stagnant pond.
Neighbours ask if he’s okay.
‘He’s fine,’ I lie, or maybe it’s a prayer.
I try to recollect what it was like before, what I worried about.
Earlier still, my whole childhood he spent in jail.
I slept just fine back then. I never dreamt of him.
You’d think I’d be the one most used to it.
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Traci is married to Bobby Christie from Kellas, who will be at the book launch along with her in-laws Posie and Thomas.
The event is free to attend and is being held at Windswept Brewery, Lossiemouth, on Thursday, August 26, from 5pm-7pm.
Another author, Olivia Findlay, will also be at the event with her book, A Song to Keep.
Both books are available from Scotland Street Press HERE
