Michael Hicks. Prolific composer, author, professor. Master of subtlety, profundity, and puns. Inspiration to probably every current & former student. I count myself lucky to be counted among the latter, and as an acquaintance, I have been able to sample his writing over the years, both in formal and informal settings.

Do Clouds Rest? collects a series of short observations about his mother, originally posted on Facebook. In the months before her death, Hicks' mother lived in an assisted-living community just a few blocks from him, and he made a point of visiting her every day, even if just for a few minutes. These observations are from the time they spent together, and center around the memory loss she went through.

Dr. Hicks is among the most well-spoken (and well-written) people I've ever had the pleasure of knowing, so it's no surprise to me that the same is true here. There is humor, there is wit, there is frustration and pain. And while Hicks does not whitewash the difficulties of an end-of-life experience, the feeling that comes through is an evenness and sensitivity that feels exactly right. I don't know how else to describe it.

This book is a beautiful, loving tribute to Hicks' mother. I recommend it to everyone.

Here is one of my favorite passages:

Buying a birthday card with Mom to give to my son Johnny and she keeps saying "I don't really know him" and "He won't know who I am" and I keep telling her that she might not remember but he's 24 and he's known her since he was born and I try to explain that her memory is going and when she finally picks out a card she says the same things again and I give her a pen to sign it and she asks "How do I sign it—Aunt Marilyn?" and I say "You're not his aunt, he's your grandson" and she asks me this again and so I help her to sign "Grandma Thompson" though she keeps insisting he won't know who she is and I assure her that he will and on the way home she says "This is a transitional time for me—at some point I might not even know my own name" and I say "You won't but I will" and she says "Thank you."

( )