The Bar of our Recent Unhappiness

The third story in this collection is about a man, Jake, whose wife went into a coma after suffering a head trauma when she was hit by a car. Jake meets George in the bar outside of the home Jake's wife and George's mother stay in. George and Jake become friends becuase of thier commen suffering. The story is told through the perspective of Jake, who is fighting with himself, between contiuning to love his wife and moving on because he knows she will never get better.

I thought this was a sad, depressing story. Jake tries to justify him wanting to move on by convinving himself that his wife wants to die. It's ironic that I read this story at this time, becuase last night I was watching an  episode of Grey's Anatomy and it dealt with a similar situation: person in a vegitative state, do we move on or hope for a miracle? So last night I thought of the situation as a doctor: she shows signs of brain function, she has been making progress in the home, we still have a chance. Then I thought of this story as Jake; my wife my never speak, walk, think again, how can I reconcile my wanting to move on with her still being alive. It's a incredibly hard position to be in. McCracken does a good job of allowing readers to dig deep into Jake's inner thoughts. For example, she writes, "I am a man of small mistakes. I am not competen. This is not harsh self-judgement, it is fact. I have burned food all my life; I wear spotted clothing without noticing; I botch household jobs." By taking these small, insignificant actions of Jake's daily life the author highlights his struggle with his wife. His wife would have been the one to cook and remind him to clean, things a wife would do. Since she is still alive he feels like he has an obligation to her and is unable to revive his sense of living.