My father, for his part, was not a man to begrudge anyone a divergent opinion; he'd have been fine if I had written some articles disagreeing with his policies, or even given interviews, as long as I was respectful and civil. Patti Davis More Quotes by Patti Davis More Quotes From Patti Davis I thought the best thing that I could do would be to clean up my own act, in terms of whatever .. childhood wounds were left. Patti Davis clean childhood would-be America had taken my father from me. And over most of the years of his illness, I gradually started feeling this support system from this country who-people grieving along with us. Patti Davis taken country father Some people, when they die, leave so much life behind that we wonder how they did it. Patti Davis behinds wonder people People love the way they're capable of loving-but that's not always how you want them to love or how you think they should love. Patti Davis love people thinking Laura Bush went on national television during the week of my father's funeral and spoke out against embryonic stem cell research, pointing out that where Alzheimer's is concerned, we don't have proof that stem-cell treatment would be effective. Patti Davis alzheimers cells father I did what most writers do when something happens that's overwhelming, fascinating, moving, all of that. I didn't know what else to do about it except write about it. Patti Davis bedtime writing moving Of course, people say maybe there are some self-published books out there that shouldn't be out there. Well, it's the same with conventional publishing. Patti Davis self book people I have a feeling of reverence about my father being in his 80s - a feeling that I want to whisper, take soft steps, not intrude too much. He's like a stately old cathedral to me now. Patti Davis want feelings father I grew up in this era where your parents' friends were all called aunt and uncle. And then I had an aunt and an aunt. We saw them on holidays and other times. We never talked about it, but I just understood that they were a couple. Patti Davis holiday uncles couple My father's body lies in a stone tomb high on a hill. People walk by, pause, think their own thoughts about him and move on, back to their own lives. I can never move on. He is everywhere. Patti Davis father lying moving Decades later I would look into my father's eyes and try to reach past the murkiness of Alzheimer's with my words, my apology, hoping that in his heart he heard me and understood. Patti Davis eye heart father I don't think it's an accident who our parents are; I believe we choose them. So maybe I chose my parents in order to effect change. Patti Davis order believe thinking There is a point in the grieving process when you can run away from memories or walk straight toward them. Patti Davis running grieving memories I think that nothing teaches you more about life than death and dying. Patti Davis death-and-dying dying thinking The house I grew up in had large plate-glass windows, which birds frequently crashed into headfirst. My father helped me assemble a bird hospital, consisting of a few shoe boxes, some old rags, and tiny dishes for water and food. Patti Davis shoes glasses father The most ethical way to deal with an unethical situation would be to simply say: 'We did something wrong.' But nobody in a family like mine would ever respond like this. Patti Davis ethical would-be way Even if the Bush Administration had flung open the gates to stem-cell research years ago, we would not be at the point of offering treatment today. Christopher Reeve would still have been taken from us. But we would be closer. Patti Davis cells offering taken I knew people were independently publishing, and I buy books on Amazon. I began seriously considering it when Amanda Hocking was in the news about her self-publishing success. Patti Davis self book people The thing about losing any loved one, I think, particularly in a long disease, is that you know that other people have gone through it and are going through it, but I think for every person it feels unique. Patti Davis unique long thinking You have to separate yourself from your parents. You do. In order to find yourself. Patti Davis finding-yourself parent order