"The sicker mother got, the stranger the people surrounding her became. I called them The Garland Freaks"

The quote by Lorna Luft is a reflection on her mother's illness and the people who surrounded her throughout that time. It is a poignant tip of the solitude and seclusion that can come with illness. The expression "The Garland Freaks" is a metaphor for individuals who pertained to visit her mother as she ended up being sicker. These individuals were strange and unknown to Lorna, and she felt that they were out of place. They were not family or close friends, however rather complete strangers who were drawn to her mom's illness. The quote is a pointer of the odd and in some cases unpleasant scenarios that can emerge when somebody is ill. It is likewise a pointer of the value of having a strong support system of friends and family during hard times.