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When she was heading to college, Jo Ann Chew's father gave her two choices: She could take secretarial courses, so she'd have a career; or study home economics, to be somebody's wife. She chose home economics, explaining, "I wanted to be somebody's wife." Since 1995, that somebody has been Bob Chew. Jo Ann is now 82; Bob is 70. And in December 2004, Jo Ann was diagnosed with dementia. She is in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease. With their 12th anniversary arriving in October, the couple discussed how they met, and how they're coping with Jo Ann's condition. As for regrets, Jo Ann only has one. "Not having control of everything, of my thoughts, or my actions," she says.
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Piece Description
When she was heading to college, Jo Ann Chew's father gave her two choices: She could take secretarial courses, so she'd have a career; or study home economics, to be somebody's wife. She chose home economics, explaining, "I wanted to be somebody's wife." Since 1995, that somebody has been Bob Chew. Jo Ann is now 82; Bob is 70. And in December 2004, Jo Ann was diagnosed with dementia. She is in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease. With their 12th anniversary arriving in October, the couple discussed how they met, and how they're coping with Jo Ann's condition. As for regrets, Jo Ann only has one. "Not having control of everything, of my thoughts, or my actions," she says.
Broadcast History
NPR's Morning Edition 2/9/2007
Transcript
Bob Chew interviews his wife, Jo Ann Chew, in Little Rock, AR.
JC: "My father said, If he sent me to college, that I could choose one of two things. He said you can choose home ec because I know you'll be somebody's wife, you're too cute not to be somebody's wife (laughs). Or number two, I could take up a secretarial course, 'cause you know, at that time there weren't a lot of things that women did. So I decided the home ec was the way to go. I wanted to be somebody's wife.
BC: Are you still cooking today?
JC: Not today. I have been up to this point, but I have Alzheimer's, the beginning of it, and uh, so I hear, and my doctor told me he did not want me to cook. And that was music to my ears. (Laughs.)
BC: Oh, who is doing all of the cooking?
JC: This fella across from me here. He's turned out to be quite a professional, too.
BC: So how did we meet?
JC: Somehow we got together...
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Noah Chandler
Posted on November 26, 2007 at 08:20 AM | Permalink
Review of StoryCorps: Jo Ann Chew
My g-d, can anyone listen to this and not cry?! The audio doesn't provoke a cry only of pity but one that senses how much love is present between these two people. Their story should prove able to cross common barriers among listeners (age, class, race, all that stuff). Well produced and some of the most wonderfully sad 3:23 I've listened to in quite some time...thank you.