Afterimage: A Brokenhearted Memoir of a Charmed Life by Carla Malden. I read this book some time ago and didn’t write it up until now because in the book Carla stated that she had been in school in California since first grade. I saw this book mentioned in an old Class Notes but then wondered if characterizing Carla as an alum was a mistake. I eventually was able to message Carla and asked if she had attended Friends Seminary. She said that she had been there for kindergarten. Okay. That counts.
This memoir is a very wrenching story of cancer tragically disrupting what she calls a “charmed life” in the title. She is married to her high school sweetheart, soulmate, and professional partner in screenwriting projects. Cancer proves to be a relentless adversary. Even though I guess I am giving away what happens, the essence of the book is how it happens and to whom it happens. Anyone who has experienced or is experiencing a similar tragedy will find a kindred spirit. After her husband dies, Carla feels his presence. “But still, he exists, his afterimage hovering before me. Afterimage – a scientific phenomenon, that particular optical illusion which allows us to see something that’s no longer there.” Time has gone by. I am glad to see that she has gone on to write more books.
