Mud Season Homecoming

Christine "Cricket" Campbell, adrift in her late twenties, returns to her family's remote Adirondack house after years away. The journey is literal and emotional: her car gets stuck in the mud, echoing her sense of being stuck between identities. The house, once a place of joy and trauma, is now the site of her father's decline into Alzheimer's. Cricket's return is prompted by her sister Nina's impending move to Sweden and the need to decide their father's future care. The landscape, thick with memory and thawing earth, mirrors Cricket's own uncertainty. As she trudges through the mud, she's haunted by the ghosts of her past, especially the memory of a lost love and the unresolved grief that lingers in every corner of her childhood home.

Family Ties, Frayed Memories

Inside the house, Cricket reunites with Nina and their father, Arthur. The family dynamic is tender but fraught: Nina is the capable, organized older sister, while Cricket feels like the family's "problematic prototype." Arthur, once vibrant, now drifts in and out of recognition, sometimes mistaking Cricket for a stranger. The sisters discuss logistics for Arthur's care, revealing the emotional and financial strain of dementia. Cricket's guilt over her absence and Nina's sacrifices surfaces, as does the pain of being forgotten by a parent. The house is filled with relics of the past—photos, childhood toys, and the ever-present cat, Dominic—each a reminder of what's been lost and what remains. The chapter ends with Cricket confronting the ghosts of her own choices and the looming decision about her father's future.

Decisions and Departures

The sisters tour memory-care facilities, grappling with the reality that Arthur may soon leave the home he loves. Arthur's confusion and resistance to the idea are both heartbreaking and darkly humorous—he doesn't see himself as "old" like the other residents. The sisters' differing approaches to care—Nina's pragmatism versus Cricket's emotional intuition—come to the fore. Cricket begins to question whether institutional care is right for her father, feeling the weight of responsibility and the pull of nostalgia. The chapter explores the complexities of caregiving, the shifting roles between parent and child, and the bittersweet process of letting go. As they return home, the sisters realize that no decision will be perfect, and that love often means making impossible choices.

The Weight of Care

When Nina leaves for Sweden, Cricket becomes her father's primary caregiver. The transition is overwhelming: routines, medications, and the monotony of daily life with dementia. Cricket struggles with self-doubt, fearing she's not up to the task. Yet, small moments of connection—shared meals, walks to the pond, Arthur's flashes of humor—offer solace. The isolation of rural life and the relentless demands of caregiving test Cricket's resilience. She finds unexpected support in Carl, a neighbor who becomes a friend and confidant. As Cricket settles into her new role, she begins to see caregiving not just as a burden, but as a chance for redemption and reconnection—with her father, her past, and herself.

City Life, City Loss

Back in New York, Cricket's life feels increasingly hollow. Her job at a wellness startup is unfulfilling, her relationship with Dylan is superficial, and her friendships are fraying. The city, once a place of possibility, now feels alienating. Cricket's sense of purpose erodes as she compares her life to Nina's competence and her father's decline. The chapter explores themes of millennial aimlessness, the performative nature of social media, and the longing for authenticity. Cricket's decision to quit her job and return to the Adirondacks is impulsive but necessary—a leap toward meaning, even if she doesn't know what form it will take.

Quitting and Returning

In a moment of clarity, Cricket quits her job and calls Nina, announcing her intention to care for their father and keep the house. The decision is met with skepticism—by Nina, by their mother, by Cricket herself—but it feels right. Cricket's return is both a retreat and an act of courage. She confronts her own history of avoidance, her fear of heartbreak, and her desire to make amends. The chapter is a turning point: Cricket steps into adulthood not by achieving external success, but by embracing responsibility and the messy, unfinished business of family. The house, once a site of pain, becomes a place of possibility.

New Beginnings, Old Wounds

As Cricket adapts to life as a caregiver, she's haunted by memories of her teenage years—especially her relationship with Seth, a boy whose tragic death still shapes her. The house and the landscape are saturated with reminders: the dock where they swam, the boulder where they kissed, the pond that witnessed both joy and loss. Cricket's grief is compounded by guilt and the sense that she's failed to move on. Yet, the routines of caregiving and the rhythms of nature offer a kind of healing. Cricket begins to imagine a future for herself, even as she struggles to forgive her past.

Sibling Shifts and Sunrise Swims

Nina's departure for Sweden marks a seismic shift. The sisters' relationship, once defined by rivalry and resentment, softens into mutual respect. A sunrise swim together becomes a ritual of release and renewal. Cricket inherits not just the house, but the mantle of family caretaker. She's forced to confront her own limitations and strengths, learning to trust her instincts and accept help. The chapter explores the complexities of sisterhood, the legacy of parental expectations, and the possibility of transformation. As Nina leaves, Cricket stands on the threshold of a new life—one defined by choice rather than circumstance.

The Past Resurfaces

The return to Catwood Pond brings Cricket face-to-face with the unresolved trauma of Seth's death. Through flashbacks, we see their summer romance—innocent, intense, and ultimately doomed. The accident that claimed Seth's life is recounted in painful detail, along with the aftermath: guilt, blame, and the unraveling of Cricket's family. The chapter delves into the ways grief can calcify, shaping identity and relationships for years. Cricket's struggle to forgive herself and reconnect with her father is at the heart of her journey. The past is not easily buried, but Cricket begins to see that healing is possible, even if closure is not.

First Love, First Loss

The narrative lingers on the summer of Cricket's sixteenth year, when she and Seth fell in love. Their relationship is tender and awkward, full of the hope and fear of first love. The accident—Seth's death on New Year's Eve—shatters Cricket's world. The fallout is devastating: her parents' marriage dissolves, friendships fracture, and Cricket retreats from the place she once loved. The chapter is a meditation on the fragility of happiness, the randomness of tragedy, and the long shadow of loss. Cricket's journey is not just about caring for her father, but about learning to live with the ache of what might have been.

Prophecies and Premonitions

As Arthur's dementia progresses, he begins to exhibit uncanny premonitions—predicting the return of loons to the pond, visitors' arrivals, and even glimpses of Seth. Cricket, skeptical at first, becomes fascinated by the possibility that her father is tapping into something beyond memory. Together, they embark on a month-long experiment in divination, exploring tarot, tea leaves, and other forms of prophecy. The project is both a distraction and a means of connection, allowing Cricket to see her father not just as a patient, but as a source of wisdom. The line between confusion and insight blurs, and Cricket begins to wonder if healing can come from unexpected places.

The Oracle Emerges

Word spreads about Arthur's "gifts," and visitors begin to seek him out for guidance. With the help of Carl and Paula, Cricket organizes sessions where Arthur dispenses prophecies—sometimes profound, sometimes nonsensical, always meaningful to those who seek him. The house becomes a site of pilgrimage, and the town of Locust experiences a quiet revival. Cricket finds purpose in facilitating these encounters, even as she worries about exploiting her father's condition. The project brings joy, community, and a sense of magic to their lives, but also raises questions about boundaries, consent, and the ethics of hope.

The Town Awakens

The influx of visitors revitalizes the local economy and brings new energy to the town. Cricket reconnects with old friends, including Chloe, and begins to imagine a future that includes both love and work. The oracle project becomes a phenomenon, attracting media attention and the interest of Cricket's former boss, Gemma, who sees commercial potential. Tensions rise as Cricket is tempted by offers to monetize the oracle, but she resists, determined to preserve the integrity of what they've created. The chapter explores the tension between authenticity and commodification, and the challenge of holding onto what matters in a world that wants to package and sell everything.

Temptations and Turning Points

Gemma and her business partner offer to buy the "intellectual property" of the oracle, proposing to turn Arthur's wisdom into a scalable, AI-driven product. The offer is financially tempting, especially as Cricket faces mounting expenses and the uncertainty of her own future. Yet, the prospect of commodifying her father's decline feels wrong. With the support of Carl, Paula, and a budding romance with Max, Cricket finds the courage to say no. The decision is a turning point: Cricket chooses meaning over money, community over commerce, and love over fear. The chapter is a meditation on integrity, legacy, and the power of saying no.

Letting Go, Moving Forward

As Arthur's health declines, Cricket prepares for the end. The final days are marked by tenderness, sorrow, and a sense of completion. Surrounded by family and friends, Cricket says goodbye to her father, grateful for the time they shared and the healing they found together. In the aftermath, she reconnects with her sister, her mother, and herself. The house, once a site of loss, becomes a place of new beginnings. Cricket decides to pursue her childhood dream of becoming a veterinarian, supported by her family and community. The story ends with a sense of hope: grief and love, memory and forgetting, endings and beginnings—all coexisting in the messy, beautiful business of living.

Characters

Christine "Cricket" Campbell

Cricket is the novel's narrator and emotional core—a woman in her late twenties, adrift after years of avoidance and self-doubt. Her relationship with her family is complex: she idolizes her older sister Nina, feels guilt over her father's decline, and is haunted by the loss of her first love, Seth. Cricket's psychological journey is one of moving from passivity and self-reproach to agency and acceptance. She is deeply empathetic, often to her own detriment, and struggles with the fear of causing harm to those she loves. Through caregiving, she confronts her own limitations and discovers unexpected strength. Her arc is about learning to forgive herself, embrace imperfection, and choose a life of meaning over one of mere survival.

Arthur Campbell

Arthur is Cricket's father, a retired engineer whose life is upended by Alzheimer's. Once witty, warm, and resourceful, he now drifts between lucidity and confusion, sometimes forgetting his own children. Yet, as his memory erodes, he becomes a vessel for unexpected wisdom—offering prophecies, comfort, and even glimpses of the supernatural. Arthur's decline is both tragic and transformative: he is the catalyst for Cricket's growth and the unlikely center of a community's revival. His acceptance of his condition, humor in the face of loss, and moments of clarity reveal a man who, even as he forgets, continues to teach those around him about love, presence, and the mysteries of the mind.

Nina Campbell

Nina is Cricket's older sister, a scientist whose competence and discipline have long set the family's standard. She returns home during the pandemic to care for Arthur, managing his decline with grace and efficiency. Nina's relationship with Cricket is marked by both rivalry and deep affection; she is both a guide and a foil. Her decision to move to Sweden for her career forces Cricket to step up, shifting the family dynamic. Nina's arc is about learning to relinquish control, trust others, and pursue her own happiness without guilt. Her evolution from caretaker to mother, and her willingness to admit vulnerability, deepen her character and her bond with Cricket.

Seth Atwater

Seth is the boy whose summer romance with Cricket ends in tragedy. His death on Catwood Pond is the novel's central trauma, shaping Cricket's sense of self and her relationships for years. In memory and, perhaps, in spirit, Seth remains a presence—appearing in Arthur's visions and Cricket's dreams. He represents innocence, possibility, and the pain of unfinished stories. Seth's role is both literal and symbolic: he is the embodiment of what is lost and what must be integrated for healing to occur. His mother's later appearance offers Cricket a chance at forgiveness and closure.

Carl

Carl is a local woodworker who becomes Cricket's confidant and Arthur's companion. Having cared for his own mother through dementia, Carl brings empathy, patience, and practical wisdom to the Campbell household. He helps Cricket navigate the challenges of caregiving, encourages her to pursue her dreams, and provides a model of resilience after loss. Carl's own story of grief and renewal parallels Cricket's, and his belief in the possibility of new beginnings is a steadying force. He is the embodiment of community support and the healing power of friendship.

Paula Garibaldi

Paula is a flamboyant, aging Manhattanite who runs the local dance barn. She draws Cricket into her orbit, offering both employment and a sense of belonging. Paula's irreverence, creativity, and refusal to be limited by age or circumstance make her a role model for reinvention. She is instrumental in transforming Arthur into the town's oracle, and her dance classes become a metaphor for embracing life's messiness. Paula's presence injects humor, energy, and a touch of the surreal into the narrative.

Gemma Dwyer

Gemma is Cricket's former boss, a charismatic but manipulative founder of a wellness startup. She embodies the allure and danger of commodifying authenticity, always seeking the next trend to monetize. Gemma's interest in Arthur's oracle persona brings both opportunity and ethical dilemmas. Her attempts to buy and scale the oracle project force Cricket to confront her own values and the meaning of legacy. Gemma is both a tempter and a mirror, reflecting the pressures of modern capitalism and the challenge of holding onto what matters.

Max

Max is Paula's nephew, an arborist who becomes Cricket's romantic interest. He is patient, grounded, and unafraid of Cricket's complexity. Their relationship develops slowly, offering Cricket a chance to experience love without the weight of tragedy or self-sabotage. Max's presence signals Cricket's readiness to move forward, to risk vulnerability, and to imagine a future beyond grief. He is a symbol of hope, growth, and the possibility of happiness after loss.

Tish Campbell

Tish is Cricket and Nina's mother, a driven consultant who never quite acclimated to rural life or domesticity. Her marriage to Arthur dissolves under the strain of diverging values and unmet expectations. Tish's relationship with Cricket is fraught—she is both critical and supportive, loving and withholding. Over time, she comes to accept her own limitations and those of her children, offering belated but meaningful support. Tish's arc is about reconciling ambition with acceptance, and learning to love imperfectly.

Dominic

Dominic, the family's Maine coon, is a constant presence throughout the novel. He is a source of comfort, a link to the past, and a symbol of endurance. His own decline parallels Arthur's, and his needs force Cricket to confront practical realities. Dominic's survival, despite age and illness, is a quiet testament to the persistence of love and memory.

Plot Devices

Nonlinear Narrative and Memory

The novel employs a nonlinear structure, weaving present-day caregiving with flashbacks to Cricket's adolescence and the pivotal summer with Seth. This mirrors the experience of dementia—where past and present blur—and allows the reader to inhabit Cricket's emotional landscape. The use of memory as both a plot device and a theme underscores the fragility and power of personal history.

The Oracle as Metaphor

Arthur's transformation into the town's oracle is both literal and symbolic. It provides a framework for exploring the search for meaning in the face of decline, the hunger for guidance in uncertain times, and the ways in which wisdom can emerge from vulnerability. The oracle project is a plot engine, bringing new characters and conflicts, but also a metaphor for the unpredictable gifts of aging and loss.

Symbolism of Place and Nature

Catwood Pond, the family home, and the surrounding landscape are rich with symbolism. The changing seasons, the return of the loons, and the cycles of thaw and freeze all mirror the characters' emotional journeys. The house is both sanctuary and prison, a site of memory and a stage for transformation. Nature's indifference and beauty provide both solace and perspective.

Intergenerational Trauma and Healing

The novel explores how trauma—personal and collective—echoes across generations. The loss of Seth, the dissolution of the family, and the burden of caregiving are all refracted through the lens of memory and forgetting. Healing comes not from erasing the past, but from integrating it, finding meaning in pain, and choosing to move forward.

Humor and Irony

Despite its heavy themes, the novel is laced with humor—dark, absurd, and tender. The characters' banter, the quirks of small-town life, and the ironies of modern wellness culture provide relief and depth. Humor becomes a survival strategy, a way to bear the unbearable and to find joy amid sorrow.

Analysis

"Before I Forget" is a luminous meditation on memory, loss, and the messy, redemptive work of caregiving. At its heart, the novel asks what it means to love someone who is disappearing, and how we find ourselves in the process of letting go. Through Cricket's journey—from avoidance and guilt to acceptance and agency—the story explores the paradoxes of adulthood: that healing often requires returning to the places and wounds we most fear; that meaning is found not in grand achievements, but in small acts of presence and care; and that the future is always uncertain, but no less worth pursuing. The novel resists easy closure, embracing the ambiguity of grief, the persistence of hope, and the possibility of joy after devastation. Its lessons are both universal and deeply personal: that we are all, in some way, between selves; that love endures even as memory fades; and that the best prophecies are the ones we write for ourselves, one imperfect day at a time.

Last updated: December 8, 2025