We never got along. We were like oil and water together. Who would have guessed we would spend the last five years of her life together. My mother was a beautiful Southern belle. Self-indulgent, determined, social and vivacious. She lost all she knew to a silent, insidious and stealth disease . . . Alzheimer. It left her frightened, alone and isolated. Her only true companions were fragmented memories that teased and haunted her. I cared for my mother, in my home, for five years. I know the dos and don'ts in dealing with this disease. Nursing homes are not always the answer but always an option. In today's economic climate, my book may be the best thing to happen to middle-class America. It's back to basics. This book is about caring for a family member at home. It's about discovery, loss, saying good-bye and survival . . . yours.