20/03/06 MITCH ALBOM

Last week, Fort bought me this book by Mitch Albom, "The Five People You Meet In Heaven". It was interesting, talking about coming to terms with one's life after death. My sister mentioned she read another book by Mitch which is "Tuesdays With Morrie", a book which I decided then I should buy on my own.

Yesterday night, the taxi driver who drove me home chatted with me. He talked about missing his wife who passed away 5 years ago due to lymphoma (cancer of the lymphatic system).

He talked about how his wife got a strange disease (declining blood cells n liver malfunctioning) 10 over years ago and was going to die. An old lady with no kins resided in the same ward as his wife, and being in pain herself, she still got up to feed the old lady porridge. The very next day, the lonely old lady passed away and miraculously his wife survived for another 10 over years.

I shared with him my doctor's views on my condition and he took out a book from the side of his driver's seat. "Tuesdays With Morrie". Such is fate, we both agreed. It was an old book, obviously drenched and dried once. Ricky, the driver insisted I take it as he had another copy at home and the one I'm holding was given to him by a Canadian friend. He gave me his handphone number in case I needed to talk or return the book.

The story is beautiful, starting with Morrie dying and sharing, ending with his peaceful death. Learning how to die is learning how to live, like Amy Tan says, "I love this book...a true story that shines and leaves you forever warmed by its afterglow." How very true.

I intend to pass on and circulate this beauty, do ask of it from me if you can spare some time to read. :)