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"In this poetic and inspiring memoir, one of America's most revered actresses uses the imagery of flowers and the art of ikebana to depict the unique creative bond that she has had with her mother throughout the years--and how, together, they are facing her mother's struggle with Alzheimer's disease. Marcia Gay Harden knew at a young age that her life would be anything but ordinary. One of five lively children born to two Texas natives--Beverly, a proper Dallas lady, and Thad, a young officer in the US Navy hailing from El Paso--she always had a knack for storytelling, role-playing, and mischief-making. As a military family, the Hardens moved often, and their travels abroad eventually took them to a home off the coast of Japan. It was here that Beverly, amidst the many challenges of raising a gaggle of youngsters, found solace in ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arrangement.