I’ve just finished reading the book Tuesday’s with Morrie. The book is about an older professor who is diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease. Over the years Morrie had many students who adored him but one in particular was Mitch, one of his favorites. Mitch Albom took all the classes he could with Morrie and it allowed them became very close. At Mitch's graduation they promised to keep in touch, however they did not. It was sad but this happens to people everywhere, a promise to keep in touch is lost as life gets in the way. Many years later Morrie appears on television to talk about his disease. Mitch just happened to be watching the channel and decides to renew his relationship with Morrie. He goes to see Morrie, at the positiveness of their meeting he then decides to come every Tuesday. When they meet, they ponder about the meaning of life and the acceptance of death by the living.

As I closed the book my thoughts drifted silently to another place and time. Reading always had this wonderful effect on me, seeing the world through another set of eyes can really show you things from another perspective.

This story touched a special place in my heart and made me look at my life again with different colored glasses. My best friend Sharon was older and I had always considered her as my mentor. She had a special way of treating me as a peer that showed me she valued my opinions. I remember one conversation we had in particular. We were in the car on a warm fall day up in Ohio. We were talking about what exactly the Bible meant..

She was saying “Don’t you think the gospels are just stories that try to teach you how to live life.”

“I do not think they actually happened. They are just supposed to give us some insight.” I agreed, we mostly spoke about Noah’s ark and Adam and Eve.

“How can every different ethnicity come from only two people?”

I was not sure and I thought about that for a long time. I responded with “I think that is why they call it faith”.

Neither of us were regular church goers but we tried to go once in awhile. She was a Catholic to some extent. I was closer to a christian than anything. One day I went to church with her because she asked and I knew it would mean a lot to her. The visit sparked a discussion about life after death.

I said “That heaven is a nice idea but I like the idea of being reincarnated.”

“I would like to be as free as a butterfly.”

"I think that is the classical animal that people use when they talk about being reincarnated” I responded. To me, the freedom of flight, is a release from everything that holds us where we stand.

We were very close until one day Sharon decided to move to Kentucky and shortly thereafter I decided to move to Florida, with promises that we would stay in touch. Eventually we did grow apart but I called and tried to see her as much as possible. Whenever I flew up to Ohio, I tried to find my way over to her. One Christmas visit I was snowed in and could not get to Kentucky to visit Sharon. I called with the bad news, she told me it was okay, she was in the hospital but not to worry, it was not really serious. She had cancer again, for the third time, but they were hopeful. She had done this twice already and the chemo therapy kept it away for awhile.

Later I asked myself “Why did I not realize how sick she really was?” She always tried to be so brave, to always think of others, not herself.

I finally got a chance and went to visit her in February but by then the cancer had almost completely over taken her body. I met with her husband Warner, in the hallway before I went into the room. He said it was really bad and she could not stay awake very long to talk. When she noticed me her face lit up and I got to see the Sharon I always knew.

She could barley speak but I remember she asked me. “Do you think I’ll go to heaven when I die?”

I instantly thought about those conversations we had. “Yes I do believe you will go there, no one deserves to more than you.” I replied.

“Do you want to be reincarnated as a butterfly still?” She chuckled for a minute. “I think a butterfly would be nice.” She fell asleep after that for almost the rest of the visit.

A few weeks after my visit she died and I got that phone call I was dreading. In the book Mitch had fourteen Tuesday’s to spend with Morrie. He absorbed his knowledge and could show his affection. I regret every day I missed with her. I just wanted reassurance that she knew I loved her and how she changed my life. She was the best person I had ever known in my life.

I meant every word that day. Although I was not sure if heaven was the right place, I knew where ever it was she would be happy, smiling and healthy.

Just how I feel

-The book flooded me with thoughts, emotions and then I realized I should be lucky I had that one day. I got to say goodbye in my own way. I had a new outlook after reading the book it changed my life. I sometimes wonder if Sharon was trying to hold so I could come say goodbye. She knew I loved her, I know that now. What is the meaning of life? The one question no one has a positive answer for. Mitch and Morrie would say something along the lines of “enjoying the one’s you love because you never know what can happen.” I just try not to take anything or any one for granted. Those extra thirteen visits might have been insightful but I spent along time with Sharon before she was sick. I feel that is what is important. It is amazing how one book can make you reevaluate the things you hold dear to you. If it does that you know it is worth reading again.

04 She Talks To Angels.mp3 -let me know if you can not hear this song it plays on my computer when I open it.

John S's remix

FarrahRemixJM