A Three Dog Life

When Abigail Thomas's husband Rich was struck by a car, he suffered severe brain damage. He now lives in an institution, experiencing rages, terrors, and hallucinations, with no memory of events from hour to hour or day to day. In the aftermath of this tragedy, Thomas rebuilt her life in a small country town, finding stability through three dogs, knitting, and friendship while confronting guilt and discovering gratitude. The memoir explores Thomas's relationship with Rich, a man living in the eternal present whose perceptions often carry an eerie, poetic quality. Over five years following the accident, Thomas learned that while disaster may not yield meaning, deliberate effort can transform it into something constructive. The book examines how she navigated this new reality while maintaining the bonds of a loving relationship fractured by tragedy.