Book excerpt: In her debut book, Indiana writer Amy McVay Abbott offers thirty insightful and humorous essays about life transitions. In 2009, Abbott lost her job shortly after her only child left for college. Her mother was diagnosed with multi-infarct dementia, and what seemed logical for Abbott was to start writing it all down. Through humor, Abbott weaves together past and present with future hopes and dreams after turning fifty. Mothers, daughters, aunts,and nieces will enjoy this spiritual and comedic journey. Abbott also writes a bi-weekly newspaper column The Raven Lunatic for several Indiana newspapers. Visit her online at http://poetryfan.blogspot.com or contact her at [email protected].