Bobby Wonderful: An Imperfect Son Buries His Parents

Bob Morris, who in his mid-forties is a New York Times columnist, stand-up comedian, and spouse of the publisher Ira Silverberg, provides a moving, insightful, and captivating story of the deaths of his parents. His mother was in her seventies and his father was in his early eighties when they died.

As the title suggests, Morris describes himself as not living a life his parents might have hoped for him, and he describes his older brother as the responsible one. But when his mother begins her long physical and mental decline, Bob gradually becomes very attentive and helpful to his father’s and brother’s care of his mother. Her last word was “Bobby.”

Already close and accepting of each other, Morris and his father become even closer. After his mother’s death, Bob and his father decide to search for love, captured in Bob Morris’ 2008 book, Assisted Loving.

His father’s eccentricities, free spirit, and lack of pretense or concern about appearances make for a lovable being who is very accepting of others. In contrast, the author comes across as quite picky and presents himself as far less likable than his father.

When his father becomes terminally ill, his free spiritedness does not diminish. Bed-ridden and attached to intravenous lines, Morris’ father asks that the lines be removed, sits up in bed, and, just before dying, shouts, “Wonderful!” Such was his life. So is the book.