I’ve taken quite a long rest from reading and I’ve been searching for a good read. I had this talk with a friend and she let me borrow her copy of Mitch Albom’s “For One More Day”. I’ve been a fan of Mitch Albom after reading his “Tuesdays with Morrie” and “The Five People you meet in Heaven”. His works are easy to read and the best of it all, readers can easily relate to the context of his book.
“For One More Day” tells the story of Charley “Chick” Benetto and how his life went to the downside. He’s an alocholic, his wife and only daughter cut off their communication with him, he wasn’t invited to his only daughter’s wedding and he tried (but failed) several times to commit suicide. His suicide plan was to return to his original home, Pepperville Beach, and commit suicide there. On his last attempt, he was again unsuccessful (or so he thought) and as he staggers, all bloody and broken, back to his old home he found his mother there. The thing is, she passed away 8 years ago. The book gives the reader a question on what would you do if you were given another chance to meet someone whom you consider to have a very important stand in your life?
The book started by identifying what kind of life Chick had and his reasons why he decided to commit suicide. After “meeting” his deceased mother, Albom shared Posey, Chick’s mom, history and personality and eventually shared on why Posey suddenly appeared into Chick’s mind. How she stood up for her children, how she handled things as a single parent, how she faced the ridicules received not only from neighbors but sometimes from her own children. Finally, how she was able to wake Chick up from his depression and helped him realize the importance of living. Reading this book made me all emotional and cry on various scenarios.
The book made me appreciate my mom a whole lot. The book left a huge impact on me especially on the part where Chick took his mom for granted. He did quite a lot of things that even I’m guilty of. People of my age (sometimes, even younger) often gets ashamed and/or embarrassed whenever they get a bit close to their mother. As Thelma (a character from the book) says, people who are embarrassed with their mothers are not fully grown-up yet.
The book made me appreciate my mom a whole lot. The book left a huge impact on me especially on the part where Chick took his mom for granted. He did quite a lot of things that even I’m guilty of. People of my age (sometimes, even younger) often gets ashamed and/or embarrassed whenever they get a bit close to their mother. As Thelma (a character from the book) says, people who are embarrassed with their mothers are not fully grown-up yet.
One unforgettable part of the book is the list Chick made of the times when he stood up for his mother and the time when he DID NOT stood up for her. The list is really familiar for me because I myself am guilty and aware that some items Chick wrote applied to me. The sacrifices mothers made for their children is very evident in this book as well as the acceptance (And sometimes defiance) of children.
We, as children, most of the time take our mothers for granted. We are unaware of the sacrifices, be it big or small, and the tough times our mothers went through just to give the best for us. Most children might think that they have quite a long time to close the gap and appreciate their parents but in reality, no one really knows what might happen in the future. Why wait if you can appreciate your mom and your parents while they are still with you?
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