For One More Day

For One More Day
By Mitch Albom

The third in line of books by a sports writer who has a “sensitive side” They are all good. This one carries the question: if you were about to die and had the opportunity to spend one more extra day with someone who would that be? The illustrative answer in this book is found in an exBaseball player who made it to the World Series. He spent that day with his mom. That being the tag line you then discover he had a rough go of life. He was a child product of a broken marriage where his mom had to take over as the one person to shape him. She does so in a way that never required a thank-you. And she never got them. In the divorce Chick Benetto was also conflicted in his loyalty to his prize of a mother or his chump father. The yin/yang tension tore at him. With the father came his real personality and a penchant for the game and boy things. With his mother came discipline and the shaping of good character. His mother was there for him. His father was not.

In order for the theme question to have drama Albom had to draw from this tension. The story is a true story as well. He had to use a person with a destructive personality that was capable of having remorse. Through Benetto’s mistakes were the reasons why, as he was facing death, he chose to spend his “extra day” with his mom. In that day his mom teaches him one last lesson. Forgiveness. And the real deal is if forgiveness is it to be genuine, there is repentance.

I read this book in one sitting, as it is a quick read. The book would prompt a lot of reflection in the reader. As we were sitting in our sitting room after Thanksgiving dinner I raised the discussion. Me being the only one who a.) read the book and b.) was over fifty was most prone to be reflective and moved by the book. I found myself saying to the young adults in the room; “but I am sure you are familiar with the phrase if only I knew then what I know now.” When I was young and heard this phrase I scoffed at it.

Well in that reflection after reading the book I came up with no one character that molded my life. In fact with the situation at hand then, my mentors were a cast of unsuspecting characters headlined by myself. The whole concept of having that extra day is to make amends for the mistakes you made along the way. That said, I suspect I could use a few extra days. And the real impact from the book is you don’t have to wait for your last day, especially if you feel you need a few of them. And again forgiveness starts with you.

This Thanksgiving was spent with my direct family. I toasted to Janet, TJ, Chelsea, Claire, and Jack as we had an intimate family dinner and impressed upon each other how important your immediate family really is. These moments I could also have again and again.