The Whole Point of Life

MARVIN'S ROOM by Scott McPherson

A hardened, sinewy blond who is almost succeeding in fighting off the encroachments of middle age tells her unstylish, homebody sister how sorry she is that the homebody threw away her life caring for their bedridden father and addled aunt. The care giver insists she has no regrets: "I can't imagine a better way to have spent my life." Later she explains, "I have had such love." She does not mean her elderly wards' love for her -- they are often cross or ungrateful -- but rather hers for them. She is not confessing to neurotic...

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