Mitch Albom was on Oprah today discussing his book For One More Day. A very poignant question was asked: What if you had one more day with someone you had lost; who would that person be and what would you do?
If I had one more day to spend with someone, I would spend it with my Aunt. She succumbed to cancer extremely fast and at a very young age. She went into the hospital with what they thought was pneumonia, and passed on about a month or two later. I was 22 at the time of her passing and had just been accepted into school. Education was very important to her, she was a strong woman and felt that we should be able to support ourselves without the help of a man or a partner. I had attended University prior to this, however left as I felt it was not for me. Just as I was accepted into College, she lay in the hospital, unaware and dying.
If I could spend one more day with her, I would first and foremost apologize for always saying I would come and visit for a weekend "one day" but never actually doing so. I was a teenager, interested in my own life and selfish. I would wrap my arms around her for a very long time and tell her how much I love and appreciate her. We would go for a walk, sit in a park and talk about life; she was never one to sugar coat anything and I truly admire her honesty. She had so much wisdom to offer of which I was only able to scratch the surface, in our short time together. If I could spend one more day with my Aunt, I would sit and listen to her thoughts on life and love; try to learn from her experiences and take in any advice she had to offer; and of course we would laugh and laugh until we cried......I miss her dearly.
They say that ordinary days are the most precious, cooking breakfast, talking over a coffee, those are the things that we miss the most when someone has passed on, the simple everyday moments.
So my fellow bloggers: What if you had one more day with someone you had lost; who would that person be and what would you do?
19 comments:
I would spend a day with my grandfather. Don't know what I'd do. Probably just spend the day running errands. Maybe get some donuts. Would love to go to Cullen Barn but it doesn't exist anymore.
~wigsf
Same as WIGSF, I would spent it with my grandfather, he died when I was pretty young so I never got to know him. I would just sit and talk about life.
p.s. Just get a man to support you, its much easier
First of all, I love that photo. Second, I love the post :) I didn't read that book, but did read "Tuesdays with Morrie" which I loved.
I would spend the day with my mother and bring along my daughter, whom she has never met. What we do is not important, but I like the idea of just sitting over coffee and talking & talking. You seem to be in a similar mood as me today...reflecting on family. Must be something in the air?
WIGSF, What is cullen barn? Did you and your grandfather go there together?
BB, I don't "need" a man, though i'm beginning to think I might like one around for some companionship at the very least.
Jlee, I also loved Tuesdays with Morrie and actually on the show that is the person that Mitch would spend time with, to see if Morrie felt he was on the right track in life. I like the idea of talking over coffee, so simple yet so meaningful.
I would spend it with my grandmother. She had a wild and independent life when she was young: she was a flapper in the 1920s, drove a studebaker to california with a girlfriend and went to flashy parties with all the movers and shakers of the time. all this back in a time when women almost never were able to set off and do things on their own.
I never knew any of that about her though until after she died. I would love to have the opportunity to hear her talk about all that stuff and to tell her how much I admire her.
She was an amazing lady.
Cool post.
I would spend it with my maternal grandma. She passed away several years ago. She was a very strong woman and pretty much the head of her household. But in her last few years she had a stroke and she sometimes wouldn’t recognize us. it was very painful to see such a strong woman being so weak.
My dear friend Kevin. He was disabled, but he did everything he could to live a good, full, active life. I would spend my day drinking with him, swimming, watching him sing Frank Sinatra at karaoke, and be his wingman when he tried to pick up women.
Easy. I would spend it with my mom.
She would make me pancakes-she only did that on special days. We would paint and talk about being artists. We would sit at that long table, her in her spot, me in mine. I'd ask her to tell me about my grandpa who I never met who sounded so cool. I'd take her to get her haircut because we used to do that. And, the best part, she would give me one of her famous hugs. And I'd hold on tight, oh so tight.
I just saw a promo that One More Day is coming on ABC Sunday night! Should be a tear jerker...
TT, you're grandmother sounds fabulous!!
Yrautca, that is a very hard thing to experience, when a loved one does not recognize you.
Wiwille, haha were you a good wingman for Kevin?
JF, the simple things :) I know what you mean about holding on tight and never wanting to let go.
Jlee, yes, i'm looking forward to it, kleenex in hand of course.
To echo others - my grandfather, and I think the best way to really spend the day would be to sit/walk around and talk. To really ask about someone's experiences and expect answers would be something worthwhile.
Cullen Country Barn was this old barn in Markham. It was an overgrown nursery store. But it was also like a community centre and year round arts and crafts fair. There was a tiny auditorium in the place that housed community theatre aimed at children and families. My grandfather and my mother would take me and my brother and my cousins there a lot when we were kids.
It has since been torn down and Pacific Mall was built on the site.
I have a childhood friend who made very poor decisions in his life and died as a result. I would like to spend another day with him... either as a little kid when we were careless and swinging on the playground, or if we were older I would have encouraged him to make some changes in his life.
Hi Ms. Ash - I just surfed in via Natalia's blog. This is an interesting idea. I haven't had anybody really close to me pass on, but if I had just one more day to spend, I would spend it with my mom (even though she's just fine and I call her at least once a week and she only lives an hour away from me). Why my mom? I dunno - because I love her and all that stuff. :)
Ian
2DP...I wonder why noone is saying Grandma, seems the Gramps have had more of an impatct.
WIGSF, ah I had never heard of it before.
SS, Very interesting choice, and if I may be so bold may I ask what he died from? I'm thinking drugs or perhaps AIDS or something along those lines?
Ian, welcome!
Tough call, oddly enough, I don't really know too many dead people (and I'm almost 30).
Anyway, I'd probably pick my grandmother, if only so I can apologize for being so much trouble as a teenager. :)
Oh no, he didn't go out that quietly. He was shot. But it was his own actions that set that plan in motion. I hadn't seen him in years when it happened. I didn't even know him anymore by that point. But I will always remember the hours we spent together as little kids and how different he was back then. But I guess we all grow up and change as a part of that process... and we don't always make changes in a positive direction.
Michael, ha!!
SS, that is very true, it's interesting to see how people evolve.
Oh man! Good question.
Found you from JLee's blog.
I'd have lunch with my cousin John and just listen.
I'd meet him in a diner in Greenwich Village where we had gone before. It would be my treat because when I was in college and totally broke, he'd always buy.
He would have been 43 this year.
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