In her earlier book, Faces and Footsteps, Morag described how a motor bike accident the week before her Matric dance, resulted in nine months in hospital, and showed how with a positive attitude, support from friends and family, she learnt how to cope with the loss of an arm and having to learn to walk, talk, live and love again.
But life comes with challenges and surmounting one batch does not mean that there will not be other hurdles to surmount.
Written with the same honesty and ability to make the best out of a bad situation, The Will and The Way, deals with what happened next.
First came the challenges of having to cope when her much loved mother developed dementia and moved in with her.
When it was no longer possible for Morag to continue to care for her mother and a frail care home became the only alternative, the man of her dreams entered her life. With marriage and happiness surrounding her, everything was perfect until Morag developed a rare nerve disorder. This problem too she managed with optimism and practical good sense.
Looking forward she continued to set realistic goals for herself by concentrating on what she could still do, how she could cope with her new limitations and how she could make those changes work for her
With a specialised wheelchair Morag then embarked on an overseas holiday of a life time with her new husband Dennis.
Why did she write this book?
Morag wanted to enrich other people’s journeys by giving them the opportunity to read about her own experiences in the hope that they might benefit from applying what she had learnt.
She provides useful hints on how to cope with dementia, with plane travel as a disabled passenger, on touring in a wheelchair.
She describes with candour and humour the problems with toilets, cobbled streets and narrow staircases, of the Dutch stranger, who presented her with a bunch of tulips, of the tour guide who burst into spontaneous applause when she managed with determination to climb the stairs to visit Anne Frank’s secret annexe.
One emerges from reading the book with renewed strength and belief in the possible, with admiration at Morag’s good humour, her sincerity, her empathy, obvious warmth and love of people, of life and what it has to offer.
Morag says “I wrote about my experiences in the hope that people would understand that one could deal with past conflicts and traumas. I took life as it happened to me and refused to rob it of its meaning. There is life – and light- after life-altering trauma.”
I found her writing style really engaging. This is a page turner! One wants to know what happens next.
Morag has the ability to weave different situations in space and time together with such ease. It is a rare gift. Her engaging style sweeps one along on her journey through her varied, fascinating and challenging life.
The Will and The Way is a book for all to savour. It enriches one’s appreciation for what one has while encouraging those with problems that it is always possible to look upon the bright side.