Book Review: Tuesdays With Morrie

Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
(Originally read May 9, 2004)

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is one of the worst diseases I've ever read about. It's an illness that hijacks your neurological system and freezes your motor skills, leaving you motionless. Despite the deterioration of your body, however, your mind stays in tact, keeping you painfully aware of every movement you can't make.

But Morrie, Mitch Albom's beloved teacher and story subject, didn't let his fight with ALS get in the way of teaching one last class about life's greatest lesson: If you lead a fulfilling life, you've nothing to fear or lose in death.

Morrie makes some great points about life, death, and society, but the most poignant, I think is this: "Death ends a life, not a relationship." You are remembered by those whose lives you touched. Chasing fame or wealth isn't going to win you any friends. Morrie says to "Invest in people. Build a little community of those you love and who love you."

The way we treat death -- mourning a loss instead of celebrating a life -- is tragic. Tuesdays is a very honest chronicle of death, but despite that I was able to close this book with a smile on my face. Because Morrie continues to touch people's lives (like mine), even after his death.



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One Month

One Month Old.

There's a small zoo at the foot of our bed.

At night, when all is quiet and still outside, Carl & I are treated to the most amazing show of neighs, trumpets, honks, and snorts. I hope that means you're sleeping soundly, even if it's only for a few hours at a time.

Soon these sweet sounds will be replaced by giggles and coos, and though I'm looking forward to hearing your first laugh, your first words, I will miss the noises of my little Peep greeting a new, unfamiliar world.

Hello, Baby: Birdie Edition

Every year, the same birdie couple comes to roost on our front porch in a dry nook between the fake-me-out shutters and fake-me-out stone wall. It makes for a noisy spring, but we haven't been able to deter them from coming back, and we really don't mind sharing our place with another pair of parents. Good neighborhoods are hard to find, after all.

But this year, the birdie couple has finally outgrown their starter nest. The nest is bursting with babies - literally! This poor little guy took a 5-foot drop onto our front porch. My mom found him chirping pitifully and trying to stand up. He really was a tiny thing, and I suspect his bigger siblings were pushing him around. So when Carl returned Tweets to the nest, I asked that he give the other birdies a stern talkin' to and remind them to be kind to their little brother.

You should've seen the incredulous look he gave me. Like I was crazy or something. Hmph.