Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant?: A Memoir

The illustration on Page 109 depicts the Grim Reaper sitting on the couch in Chast’s parents’ apartment. Chast expresses frustration that her parents never dealt with their accumulated possessions: When they moved to the facility, they only packed a few bags, leaving Chast to handle the task of cleaning out their apartment. Nevertheless, Chast was impressed by their ability to finally agree to leave their home of 48 years. Moving into the facility required a lot of paperwork and phone calls on Chast’s part. In addition, her parents left a pile of unopened mail, which she had to sort through. To make the new place feel homier, she brought items from their apartment. She reflects, “It all felt very strange. Almost like helping your kid set up their first apartment” (110).

Sorting through her parents’ possessions at the apartment, Chast felt heartbroken. She found nothing valuable, just dusty old junk. Nevertheless, she acknowledged that it was “our junk, and the thought of never seeing any of it again was troubling” (111). To preserve the memories, she photographed various items. Pages 112-21 feature these photographs, from old glasses and art supplies to a drawer full of jar lids. Photos of her childhood bedroom show piles of magazines and other clutter.