LITTLE CURRENT—Former Expositor editor Diane Sims returned to Manitoulin last Wednesday to meet and greet old friends and celebrate the launch of her memoir ‘Living Beyond the Shadow.’ The book chronicles her life and her journey from being a young carefree woman born and raised in Sault Ste. Marie through a lifetime of battling multiple sclerosis (MS, diagnosed as a teenager) that included numerous complications, including ovarian cancer and a deteriorating bowel, to her choice to end her life’s journey as she has lived it—on her own terms.
Ms. Sims newest is available to purchase at the Printshop Books at The Expositor Office.
In addition to being the editor of The Manitoulin Expositor during the late 1980s, a newspaper the 66-year-old still asserts is the “best newspaper in the universe,” and to which she has maintained a lifelong connection—including continuing submissions of articles through the years since she moved on—Ms. Sims has authored five books before deciding on embarking on her memoir.
“When I first met Diane she said, ‘I’m going to send the first five chapters I’ve got done,’” recalled publisher Bryan Davies of Tagona Press, noting the author told him the final product would be 13 chapters in length. “The first five chapters are a coming-of-age story, you know, a young girl running around Sault Ste. Marie in a VW bug, guys skinny dipping—and I loved it, but what began as a coming of age story, as the chapters unfolded, especially as her MS became the shadow—it became this amazing theme and I’m going, ‘wow,’ fantastic relationships and things that happened to people and the stuff she did here was amazing.”
For her part, Ms. Sims held court in The Expositor office in Little Current, greeting old friends and colleagues like former Expositor proofreader Linda Kelly and meeting a host of new ones dropping in to meet this most remarkable of human beings.
Asked what her message to Manitoulin is, Ms. Sims quipped “Get out there and buy a book because it’s a damn good book.”
In writing such a deeply personal book, Ms. Sims found herself faced with a number of challenges, especially since it contained within its pages many personal thoughts and incidents that she had never shared with anyone before.
“I was writing about this one episode, and I realized I had never told my family,” she recalled. “I phoned three of them right away and said, ‘you knew me back then, I never told you this.’”
The writing of the memoir was a whirlwind affair. Given Ms. Sims’ current situation (she has been palliative for several years and is well aware that the sands in her hourglass are quickly slipping away) there was some urgency. She began writing the book in March of this year and finished it by August.
It was a remarkable experience for the seasoned writer, reliving so many moments from her lifetime of accomplishments. “I remember driving the boat, paddling with new water skills, I feel what it felt like,” she said. “It was wonderful. You don’t have every day where you think of the paths your life has taken.”
Not every moment chronicled in ‘Living Beyond the Shadow’ is uplifting and filled with joy—it could hardly be honest if it did not include some of those shadows that can fall on any life, let alone one spent battling illnesses that would have left a lesser spirit floundering in despair. Some moments are of necessity left a bit ambiguous, she notes, pointing to the omission of a previous husband’s name. “I don’t want to get sued,” she laughs.
In his publisher’s note, Mr. Davies goes on to say “Diane Sims is brave beyond words. A simple, assertive sentiment that cannot do full justice to a fine memoir and an even better person. There is no small irony in the fact that our Sault Ste Marie-based publishing house is bringing Diane’s life story full circle. The Sault was where Diane was born, lived and attended high school. Lifelong friendships were forged in this city. It is here Diane first encountered the grim, relentless shadow that has assumed a variety of sinister forms for nearly 50 years. Serious disease means that often intense pain and significant physical limitations have been Diane’s constant companions. There would be no shame ever in giving in to such overwhelming forces or deciding that life would be lived on the shadow’s terms. After all, we are only human. And yet—it is Diane’s essential humanity that propels her story forward. She has never lost her joy of living. I am proud to have helped Diane craft this fine memoir, one that will stand as a testament to what ‘being human’ really means. At the same time, I am grateful for the opportunity to know such a uniquely gifted person. Diane gradually subdued and then vanquished the shadow by living life on her terms—and this book is proof.”
The Expositor book signing was the second in a series of launches, the first being held in her current hometown of Stratford, where Mr. Davies notes she signed and sold over 100 copies. The next signing event took place last Friday in her original hometown, Sault Ste. Marie, where a host of former teachers and students eagerly anticipated her arrival—including one former teacher who is now 99.
Ms. Sims will be holding yet another signing at the Arts and Letters Club in downtown Toronto (“The heart of the beast,” as Mr. Davies describes it) where she will be meeting with fellow Stratford émigré, former CTV news anchor Lloyd Robertson.
As she travels across the breadth of the province promoting her memoir, Ms. Sims was interviewed by a host of media outlets, including CBC’s Marcus Schwabe whose interview with Ms. Sims can be found online at cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/journalist-memoir-maid-1.7389457.
Ms. Sims sums up her decision to pursue medical assistance in dying. “I’m a communicator, and when I can’t communicate, that’s the time for me to check out.” She also notes that she does not want to put her husband Dennis through having to make difficult end-of-life decisions for her. Once she loses her voice and the ability to use her hands, she said it will be time.
Her husband, Dennis Thomas has come to terms with her decision, as tough as that is for someone you love. He admits that things have been difficult for the duo, especially as the cost of medical supplies and medications she needs to remain alive keep rising—soon enough to become out of financial reach. He asks what the difference between that and MAID when it comes down to it.
But until that fateful day, this most remarkable of individuals intends to keep on keeping on. “I have more life to live,” she said.
