WHEN THE CRANES FLY SOUTH

WHEN THE CRANES FLY SOUTH by Lisa Ridzen

When the Cranes Fly South is an unbelievably moving read about an elderly Swedish man, Bo, that is facing the last months of his life. Used to being strong and independent, Bo is no longer able to get around on his own. He is housebound with caregivers that come in and out daily to help him meet the most basic of needs. His hours are filled with the companionship of his trusted dog, Sixten, the thoughts of the difficult relationship he has with his son, Hans, the memories of the life he had with his wife, Fredrika, who now lives in a home and no longer recognizes him due to her dementia, and phone calls with his longtime friend, Ture, who is nearing the end of his life as well. The book travels the present and everything that is happening within these relationships and the reality of the steps that are bringing him nearer to the end, but peppered in between the reality are the memories of the past Bo frequently slips into as he remembers his life. We, the readers, become privy to the hardships he has endured and the steadiness of life in the areas that he got right. Now, as the days slip quickly by to the end, the son takes the place of the father, and the father takes the place of the son.. This becomes unbearable when Hans decides that Sixten, the dog, has to go when Bo is no longer able physically to care for him. This evokes lots of anger and hard feelings during a time when permanent goodbyes are on the horizon. Despite the hurt, despite the anger there has to be a way to bridge the chasm that now separates father and son, because any day could very well be their last together.

When The Cranes Fly South was originally written in Swedish by Lisa Ridzen, and then translated into English. The idea for the story came from the notes that Ridzen found left by the caretakers that took care of her grandfather in his last days. This clearly lends an air of reality to the story born from experience.

There are some things to be aware of in the book.

HEADS UP - The first is the language. While not heavy, there is a fair amount of profanity. including approx 7-10 f-bombs.

-Bo's best friend Ture is gay. There is no relationship between them and they don't discuss this part of his life, but it's known. He takes trips and lives that part of his life elsewhere.

- Religion is discussed briefly. Ture has a negative attitude towards it. SPOILER ALERT When Ture dies the female minister 0fficiating positively alludes to Ture's different style of life without speaking in definites. Bo, on the other hand, gathers comfort from speaking to the minister, but doesn't put a lot of stock in faith. .

-There is references to the reality of the body changing. due to age. Bo begins to have accidents frequently. The caregivers have to give him showers. This is handled very tastefully. There is also the mention that certain plumbing doesn't work the way it used to, but he no longer cares about that.