A deeply personal memoir revealing how caregiving, memory, and mystery intertwine in a daughter’s final days with her fierce, unforgettable mother.

Beatrice, one of America’s first career women, is still feisty at ninety-six. She lives with her daughter Alexandra, who has moved to Cape Cod to care for Bea while running a bed-and-breakfast out of their beloved old house. Like so many adult children caring for elderly parents, Alexandra must balance her new job as a caregiver with her role as daughter — and it isn’t easy.

Bea is demanding and very verbal. Her mind is like a fireworks display on a drizzly Fourth of July — some shots fizzle out, but there are still bits of brilliance. After a knee ailment confines Bea to bed, it becomes clear her life will soon end. Convinced nothing comes next, Bea declares she doesn’t want to die. When deceased friends and family start “visiting” Bea’s bedroom, Alexandra wonders if her mom is hallucinating. Or could these visits have deeper meaning? Bea entertains her “guests” by hosting tea parties and reliving treasured memories. She reveals an unexpected kind of joy to Alexandra — a joy that brings peace and chases away the fear of death as they experience their final days together.

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About the Author

Alexandra Grabbe began her career in Paris, greeting listeners each evening with her signature line, “Good Evening, Paris!”. As one of the most popular FM hosts in the city, she connected French audiences to the latest American music while honing her lifelong love of writing. Even as a child, Alexandra wrote and staged skits with her brother – an early sign of the creative spirit that would define her life. That same storytelling passion shines through in her memoir Seeing Joy (March 17, 2026).

After marrying a Frenchman, Alexandra’s career path shifted from broadcasting to writing. When she was passed over for a management position at the radio station because she was “a woman, and American”, she turned to the written word as an outlet, becoming editor of the newsletter for the American Section of the International Lycée while raising three bilingual children.

Over the next 25 years, Alexandra built a thriving freelance career. A regular contributor to France Today, she also published work in US Airways Attaché and American Profile, to name a few. Once her children were grown – two attending Ivy League universities, and one working as a chief sound engineer for Babyface – Alexandra returned to the United States to begin a new chapter.

In 2004, she founded and managed Chez Sven, an eco-friendly bed-and-breakfast in Wellfleet, Massachusetts, which received praise from guests and was featured in The Guardian and The Boston Globe. For twelve years, she also wrote Wellfleet Today, a blog about sustainable living on Cape Cod.

A graduate of Vassar College, Alexandra continues to blend creativity, insight and a deep appreciation for both French and American culture in her work.

Connect:
Official Website: AlexandraGrabbe.com
Facebook: /alexandra.grabbe