While caring for an aging circle of love, one woman considered the meaning of life and discovered how to live

As a caregiver to her ailing husband, Debby Hughes found moments of refuge by sitting at her keyboard and allowing the mystical to flow through her fingers. Pondering existential questions, such as "What is this all about?", "How can I better manifest love?", and "Why me?", Hughes took comfort in the quirky, irreverent, and mystically loving presence of writer Anne Lamott and poet Mary Oliver, and allowed herself to be a channel.

In The Bitch, The Dowager and The Raconteur: A Love Story, Hughes relates her experiences with aging and shares her thoughts on life to offer encouragement and highlight the interconnectedness of humanity. Alongside her musings and memories, she presents a selection of diary entries from her late husband, allowing his voice and spirit to carry on. While Hughes' conclusions on life may not provide us with the answers we seek, they do offer uplifting affirmation that loss need not be navigated alone.

A love story at heart, the book nudges us toward connection, making us feel more included in the wondrous joys of life and reminding us of our spiritual immortality and the belief that how we choose to live in this world matters. Hughes' poignant memoir is a must-read for anyone struggling with getting older, caring for aging loved ones, or in need of spiritual guidance.