Reviewed by Gary

Pearls Before Dawn is a curious story set in a nursing home. The central character, Dawn, is celebrating her 90th birthday with a party at the home and then dining out later with her son.

Jayme has done a good job of showing the life from Dawn's point of view. Many of her fondest memories are of the '70's, a time in the story that seems distant to her and the others.

Being a child of the 70's, graduating from high school and going in the military, the idea of looking back at that time from a period maybe forty years hence made me stop and think at what I might see as I look back at that time.

Dawn seems to have little regard for the occasion or as she calls it her 'token moment' and 'refuses to milk it'. She won't cast pearls before swine as she calls it and just accepts the too brief time.

Jayme has caught the attitude of heart that I've seen in a number of seniors who've accepted the fact that the most meaningful part of their life is over. All that is left is the waiting.

The fact that in a nursing home life goes on even in the midst of such a momentous occasion just gives the story that little extra. Nice job.

Story by © Jayme DeCas

Reviewed by © Gary

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