Title: Drifting Into the Light: How the Pandemic Changed Lives Forever
Author: J.B. Harris
Publisher: AuthorHouse
ISBN: 665580143
Pages: 136
Genre: Non-Fiction, Memoir
Reviewed by: Leah Shepherd
Pacific Book Review
In this poignant tribute, author J. B. Harris chronicles the unique life of her Uncle Adam, a vibrant storyteller and entrepreneur who traveled far and wide to eventually reach his ultimate potential in his 60s – before his untimely and unexpected death. As a loving niece, she shares the fascinating journey of this kind-hearted man who explored the world, endured quite a few hardships, applied patience, and finally found peace in the afterlife.
Uncle Adam loved his wife and two kids. “I will keep trying to make them happy until my last breath,” he said to his brother-in-law, and those words turned out to be a promise he kept. Sometimes the ones who we are most desperate to impress are our closest family members, not intimidating strangers.
Uncle Adam is devoted to God and increasingly committed to his faith traditions. He’s often frustrated in his constant efforts to achieve financial stability and independence. Harris relays his struggles and successes with empathy and affection. “The only thing that really kept Uncle Adam going at the time was his continuous prayers. This prevented him from falling into depression,” Harris writes.
Happiness doesn’t come from wealth and health, but from loving and being loved. The author warns us against giving into competitiveness, materialism and greed. The story reveals how expectations and judgements can keep family members distant. The estrangement deeply impacts not just those involved, but the entire extended family. The plot follows Uncle Adam’s work and life in the Maldives, Qatar and Ethiopia. The action takes place before and during the recent coronavirus pandemic that closed businesses and restricted travel. However, this is not a book about dealing with the social, emotional and financial impacts of the pandemic. Rather, it’s a book about family bonds and building a new family of friends in a faraway land, especially when travel is not possible.
Because of the pandemic, the family was not able to attend Uncle Adam’s funeral in person or bury him close to home, which added to their grief. Some of them regretted their earlier decisions to not communicate with him. “Why do we wait for calamity to suddenly realize life’s worth?” Harris wonders.
The book’s ending deals with the nature of memories and how storytelling and technology (like social media and digital photos) can help families keep memories alive after a loved one dies. Harris fondly remembers how Uncle Adam would tell her young son stories, entertain him with photos and videos on his cell phone, and take him on many piggyback rides.
This book is worth your time as it brings its own rewards. Don’t hesitate to delve into this family’s history, culture and changing relationships. You’ll be happy you did. Life is unpredictable, as Harris learned. This book encourages us to look at our own relationships and how we’re using our limited time on Earth.
