With marriage she slipped into a second skin, a dual persona for her, a new name for children to come. The marriage ended, but the skin had fused; shedding it was impossible. She clung tenaciously to her daughter-in-law status, happy for cards in the mailbox and life advice – from Mom.

In retirement, Eileen thinks that “writer” is a good answer to “What do I want to do be I grow up?”.