Official Interview: Karen Thiel

[kandscreeley]

Today's Chat with Sarah features Karen Thiel, author of It'll Be Alright, Maggie Jiggs.

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1. What do you do when you aren't writing?

I live at my brother's home during the week and care for our baby brother with special needs. I also watch over our elderly cousin at the same home, and I watch over our cousin who has her own apartment just a few blocks from us. She has recently been diagnosed with Dementia. I take care of all household chores and appointments, etc. Weekends, I go to my home 100 miles away to basically do the same, but I have my fiance supporting me all the way, and believe it or not, it feels almost like R & R for me.

2. What is your favorite book?

To be honest, it's been a long time since I've read a book. Since I started caregiving for family, I'm constantly researching ways to understand what's happening in their lives, medications they may take, diagnoses given and so on. Our baby brother with special needs (Down syndrome) has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's, and through research, I will be talking to his doctor about Lewy Body Dementia.

3. Let's discuss your book It'll Be Alright, Maggie Jiggs. Can you tell us a bit about it for those who don't know?

It's about my love and loss of my best friend. My Mom (Maggie Jiggs). Some of our adventures through the years. Oh my God, we had some fun! The things she tried to teach us about life, good and bad. But basically, I tried to tell people what I was going through after losing her. She was my CONSTANT companion for the last 5 years of her life. When I lost her, I kind of lost myself. She was and is the wind beneath my wings.

4. What made you decide to write this memoir?

With everything I take care of (my siblings help a lot), and trying to have a personal life and home, I didn't have the time to seek professional help. I want people to know that they should never be ashamed if they seek extra help. I applaud you for your courage. Writing my book was my therapy. I was able to put into words the feelings that were so hard to say out loud.

5. What was the most difficult part of writing about your life? What did you find most rewarding?

The most difficult part of writing my book is that I couldn't type fast enough to put down on paper all the emotions that were coming to the surface. I would sit down at night when everyone went to bed, start typing, and the next thing I knew it was 4 hours later. Writing about my feelings, letting all the emotions come out on paper, plus going through a box of Kleenex, took some weight of the sorrow off my shoulders. Then I started writing about funny things and realized I still had my smile that had been gone for a while.

6. How did your family feel about this book?

When I had the chapters rough-drafted, I told them and let them read them. They would remember things from the past that I had forgotten, and it made me remember some of the crazy things that happened. It brought us closer together, which was a huge plus. They're very proud of me and what I've accomplished.

7. What do you want readers to learn from this book?

It doesn't matter who you are, where you are, or who you're with. At some point in your life, all the things we took for granted, all the things given to us, will be slowly taken away. That's just a fact of life. What you choose to do with those facts is completely up to you. But in the words of my Mom, "It'll Be Alright." In time. Cherish those in your life. Tell them your feelings. Because sooner than you wish for, you'll never get the chance again. Everyone will grieve at some point in their lives. Always remember, there is NO time limit to grief.

8. What's next for you?

I already have some chapters for another book. Possibly two books. One for sure will be about my baby brother.

I like to end on lighter questions.

9. What's your favorite holiday and why?

Christmas. I'm that person who starts decorating the home in November and leaves it all up till the end of January. Everyone who can make it from our family is always welcome. Lots of food and lots of love. That's actually every day in our house.

10. What's your favorite chore?

Oh, there are so many to choose from...lol. I actually like doing laundry. It's a great sense of accomplishment when the last of it is done. Then you turn around, and the basket is full again. Oh well.

11. Would you rather live somewhere tropical or somewhere cold?

I love living where I do. We have all four seasons. It can snow one day, be warm the next, and we even have thunder snow. That's so cool.

12. What are you reading currently?

I'm doing a lot of research on Alzheimer's and Dementia. I need to know how and what I can do to make not only their lives easier, but mine too. The diseases are progressive and will only get worse over time.

[Linda Reyburn Shirey]

Ha, my husband is that person who decorates in November (for Christmas) and starts playing carols and Christmas music. (My dad used to leave up the decorations until July, so I affirm January as a good cut-off point.)