I almost bought the book when we were at B&N the other day and now think I really should have. Perhaps I didn't want to have to pick just one person whom I've lost to spend just one more day with or perhaps I was just not ready to even think about it. Who knows?
What has brought this back to my state of being is the recent loss of one of my favorite uncles (and I have numerous uncles to pick from as my father was one of nine brothers and two sisters...of the boys only 7 made it past three years of age; both girls survived) and that is just on my dad's side!
My uncle Norman died last Sunday at the age of eighty. He was out jogging and had a stroke and it was on my dad's 85th. b'day. My sister and I just learned of this today. The only uncle/aunt under 65 is my uncle Mike who is about 9 mo. older than me and he is getting a hip replacement. No one is able to attend the funeral if it has not already happened. Norman was a runner and competed in (if I am correct) The Boston Marathon at least once and did long run often. His second wife, Donna, was in a rest care place due to osteo. My next oldest cousin is David, whom I remember as a child wearing a Davey Crockett coonskin cap almost all the time! We met as adults at a reunion and found ourselves with lots in common.
So, this brings me to One More Day which has been made into a movie showing this Sunday evening. Who would I pick to spend just one more day with? Hard choice...my first pick was my mom as we were such good friends and I miss her as much today as I did when we first lost her 8 years ago. But, I talk to my mom every day, having faith she hears me and knows.
Which brings me to so many others: My dear Aunt Marion, of whom I would ask so many questions about our family history on my mom's side...she was the keeper of the history; my grandma Sears who lived such a hard life but never was without a smile; my Uncle Harlan who served in the Army with Patton's brigade and whose pictures of the war I still have....
But, I pick my Nana. She and I were such good buddies. She provided me with the perfect childhood and she has served as a shinning example of what a woman can do, must do under duress...survive and do it with class and style. I want to talk to her woman to woman and not as her young granddaughter...I want to know what her life was like before me and all about my mother as a young woman.
One more day? Oh, please give that to me with my Nana!
And you? With whom that you have lost would you wish to spend just one more day? Please leave me a message here or e-mail me at eeickmeier@comcast.net.
11 comments:
My dad died when I was only 17 y.o and he was 49. I feel like I never really knew him. I would love one more day to find out who he was, to memorize a few of his mannerisms, find familiarities in us. Just one day to get to know my dad would be a great day.
Mae
Ok, I figured out my blogger password, sorry for the "testing" posting. I usually hit your blog via Kip's blog and I saw you at RR in Oct when I took Tim's classes. I was the one that came from Ohio. Thoguht I would say hi and tell you that I would love to spend one more day with my Grandma, who I lost as a senior in high school right after Christmas. She was the Grandma that did the "little things" to spoil us. She always brought a bag of barbeque chips when she came to babysit, always cooked everyone's favorite dish at holiday meals, would let me drive her car when I had my learner's permit (even when mom wouldn't let me - ha ha!). She's been gone 32 years now and I still think about her often. Jill
I don't think I could pick. Having never really known my grandparents,(they all died by the time I was 2) I would have to say all of them. I don't know who of them I am like. But then I think of my parents, and I sure would like to see them again too. I guess that's why there's heaven. So I can see them all.
That's a tough one. My mother who I lost in 1991? Hard to think it has been 16 years now. She was only 63 when she passed away and I was saying to my dd Alix the other day that she would have loved her (Alix's) creativity and loved seeing her in her plays as my mother was very creative herself. Alix was only 1 1/2 when my mother went. I would love to spend another day with her and I think she would be my choice, but I also lived with my grandparents (my mother's parents) growing up and they both died about 3 weeks apart when I was 15. I would love to see either of them again and ask the questions I never thought to ask when I was young because one just doesn't think that way then. Good question.
Pam
I'm going to say Grandma, too. Seems to be a trend. There's just something special about a Grandma. Even though she had her faults, she practically raised me when my mother couldn't or wouldn't. She was always a good listener, and had a good sense of humor. She gave me my love of cooking, among other things. I was 19 and she was 66 when she passed.
I would have to say my mother. She died the day before my 16th birthday. She's been gone almost 30 years already! It just doesn't seem possible.I too, would like to sit and talk with her woman to woman. She passed away at only 41 years old. I know she is enjoying much more happiness now than she did in her lifetime, but my wish would be to spend one more day with her.
We must be on the same wave length today --- or be both watched the same Oprah show. My blog is about the same thing -- my grandma!
Smooches!
Ginni
As you said, that is a very hard choice to make.
I saw a bit about this on Oprah yesterday and it was oh so good. I have a lot of choices too but I think I would have to choose my real mother. Mom died when I was only 5 yrs old and I have often wondered so many things about her life and of course, things that pertain to myself too. Definatly, hands down, my Mom.
Darla
hmmm I first thought I would say my grandpa ( on my dad's side) cuz he and I were close but he knew me as a grown up met my firstborn. knew my hubby. My grandma died when I was in JR college and just engaged. and knew my gonna to be hubby but didnt really know him. and never met my kids..
I would also love the chance to meet my DHs grandfathers both were gone long before i came on the scene.
The book is wonderful Jules. I bought it the day it came out and read it almost immediately. The only person I've lost that I was really close with, was my boss. He was like a 3rd father to me (since I have a biological one & a step father). I would love one more day with him. He was such a wonderful, caring, insightful human being...
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