Tuesdays with Morrie An old Man, A Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson by Mitch Albom

 I was putting in order some books days ago, bringing some of them to the charity shop when I re-discovered Tuesdays with Morri

e An old Man, A Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson by Mitch Albom. I bought Tuesdays with Morrie at the empirium located in Umbertide, Books for Dogs, some months ago and I remember the sensation when I firstly touched it: that Mark 8/03, the previous owner of this book was a wonderful person and that he loved this book, exactly as I do and I will keep here forever!

I always buy a large amount of books everytime I go to the emporium and most of them are then put in the immense list to-be-read-later.

It's what happened with this magical self-help book.

Words for describing it? 

It's amazing. 

This story is amazing. 

Morrie Schwartz beloved universitarian teacher fell sick with ASL in 1994. He was surprised to discover that he was affected by this horrible illness still degenerative, still incredibly mortal, still without a definitive cure. 

He was surprised, Morrie, although some things were not anymore going on well; he loved dancing and he stopped dancing and he wasn't exactly fine when he decided to discover what was wrong in him. 

But this...

Morrie was the most generous, kind, compassionate spirit you could meet, always available for everyone. 

Who talked with him received immediately his generous, genuine attention. Morrie was a person in love with people and appreciated the discovery of new souls with which interacting with. 

Everyone who spent some time with him was lucky, because Morrie had wonderful advices to share, good and wise words were pronounced by him and was a great listener and...answerer. 

He understood the real meaning of the existence when he was fine and he really enjoyed the ride: when, unfortunately, fell sick  and he needed to wait for the arrival of death he decided to fight: he didn't want to arrive unprepared to death, a step common to all men;  he didn't want to leave this life with the desperation of someone scared of his condition and at the same time, scared of passing away. He wanted with all himself to present to the rest of humanity his joy of living, telling them the real meaning of the existence; according to him and according to what learned day by day on this Earth.

It is not just the story of Morrie this one, wonderfully told in the Boston Globe in an article called: A Professor's Final Course: His Own Death that launched the story of this teacher in a moving article, but also the beautiful tale of a friendship: the one of Mitch, ex Morrie's student, reporter and writer of this book with mr. Schwartz.

Morrie, as writes Mitch was an unforgettable friend and human being; in the final path of his existence Mitch will meet every tuesday his old dear teacher discussing with him about the most profound meanings of life. It is also the story of a professor and a student. I thought at the luck of Albom: at a certain point Mitch asks to the reader if his readers have had teachers who made the difference in their existence; someone who changed their students in better, as Morrie Schwartz did with him. No, unfortunately no. The opposite.

Mitch studied in Massachusetts at Brandeis University and one of his most beloved teacher was Morrie, Morrie Schwartz. Once graduated the idea of staying in connection with his ex-teacher was strong but then life absorbed, tremendously absorbed Mitch Albom and so he simply forgot of staying in touch with his teacher. He thought of him, sometimes, he remembered the nice professor he had introduced to his parents the day of his graduation but, simply, his professor was incapsulated in that portion of his existence, defined by a specific time, classified like past, so he didn't stay in touch.

The interest of Mitch for his old professor returned to be felt and real when he watched Nightline: Mitch re-discovered his teacher again, more old and although still young for the parameters of our society in the final phase of his existence; Albom didn't lose time and contacted his teacher.

Tuesday has always been a magical day for Morrie. Morrie received every tuesday; Morrie taught tuesday; the final lessons about life, death and what there is in the middle, in the between, in the existence of a man, every tuesday. 

And, a casualty? The funeral of Mitch was celebrated in Tuesday. "You'll Talk, I will listen" said Morrie one day to him. They continued a silent dialogue.

Some example of what you will find in the book. 

Morrie thought that it is important to settle down, having a family, because it means company. Morrie said: "If you don't have the support of and love and caring and concern that you have a family you don't have much at all...As our great poet Audern said, "Love each other or perish."

Family means also someone "Whom you know has an eye on you, is watching you the whole time."

Morrie thought that power or a big amount of money couldn't make him more happy or cheerful considering his condition; considering that he was dying.  To him making money was part of the current culture. For fear of losing job. Morrie thought that certain guidelines of the society could be appreciated. No one will go around naked but the big things, "How we think, what we value...You can't let anyone or - or any society - determine those for you."

Morrie thought that everytime we are in company of someone we should be there for him/her: "I believe in being fully present. That means you should be with the person you're with."

Married for 44 years Morrie didn't have a great considerations of newest generations regarding possible relationships, although he remarked that a solid marriage and union is important where not crucial. 

"You ge tested. You found out who you are, who the other person is and how you accomodate or not."

In his gravestone he thought that the best epitaph could be A Teacher to the Last. 

Beautiful! If you haven't read yet, do that!

Anna Maria Polidori