Rita is struck by a loopy adrenaline disorder after a car accident.

(from Russian Lover and Other Stories)

Wow, this is a strange one. Basically, this traumatic accident causes Rita to blurt silly non sequiturs, which is sometimes pretty funny and occasionally sad or tiresome. And, though I’m somehow displeased that this popped into my brain, sometimes Rita’s rampant loopiness feels like an excuse for a writer to turn stream-of-consciousness into zingers and giggles. But as soon as John Denver is brought into the picture, the story finds its gravity again. And the pages fly on by.
Couldn’t find a link to pass along, except for this poem by Susan Hooper, also called Goodbye John Denver. (Scroll a bit.)