Long Road to Dry River

Dyou think you mightve got the MS because you cant forgive your dad? That wasnt Jennifer Severns doctor asking--or her psychologist. It was her lawyer but it was a good question. When Jen aged 22 settled into a cab at Sydney Airport one rainy night in 1988 shed taken pains to create a safe sensible life for herself after an unhappy childhood. But that was about to take a turn. The driver was a follower of Bhagwan Sri Rajneesh and the conversation that night set her on a new dual existence--Jen the medical sales rep and Marga Sahi the Rajneesh disciple. Was it the strain of maintaining this double life that brought on an episode of visual disturbance--double vision no less--in 1994? Family dysfunction inappropriate relationships life as an Orange Person a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis ... Jen bounced between Australia India and Amsterdam before circumstances conspired to land her in Quaama a small rural village on Dry River on the far south coast of New South Wales. Will an unrestored 1840s shearers cottage and a quirky rural community be her salvation? Long Road to Dry River was shortlisted for the Finch Prize for Memoir in 2018.