Monday, December 7

cloudy concerns

The Five People You Meet in Heaven. Frankly, I've never really clicked with Albom's books because they need way more than seventeen years of (rather dull) memories to really strike a chord. But I am rather fond of the idea that you'll find out who really mattered to you in the end. It's a form of closure I've always expected Heaven to give. Not ideal, of course, but it is worth mulling over a hot cup of Milo.

It might sound a tad dramatic, but I couldn't finish the damn Milo today because I started wondering who will meet me in Heaven. Who will I matter to, in the end? Who will need me for a bit of perspective of their life?

Sadly, even if I greatly exaggerate my importance in any part of any person's life, I still cannot see myself as much of an influence on anyone. "Hey Suiying! I knew I'd be seeing you here! The way you complimented the lecturer taught me about sarcasm and it totally changed my life!". Not happening. Not even if God decided to stretch the number to 10.

Ah well. Guess that means I don't have to break from any ethereal ecstasies I will be enjoying.

I suppose if I really want someone to meet me, I can adopt a Somalian baby and give him electricity and homework instead of letting him yohoho his life away on the open seas. But that feels a bit like cheating, no?

I also like Albom's notion of Heaven because he never mentioned a Hell.

5 comments:

YanMing said...

hey...i've read Mitch Albom's book. I've read both 'The Five People You Meet in Heaven' and 'Tuesdays With Morrie'.

Makes you think who you'll meet in Heaven huh??i wondered the same thing...

suiying said...

Speaking of meeting people, class reunion you got go ah? Baru like, 2 years got class reunion already. Damn keng right.

Jamie Soo Siew Yuin said...

Read Albom's latest book: "Have a Little Faith: A True Story."

It explores more on his religious faith. You'll know he's Jewish.

The Public Transit Girl said...

Nice one.

FYI, it's the first (and until now, the last) book to make me cry.

Don't ask why ;)

http://sapphirelittledragon.blogspot.com/2009/06/five-people-you-meet.html

suiying said...

I'll look for it and make joo-loving Queen Bea buy it :D

The thing that bothers me about that book is that no one can say "YOUR WRONGGG!!11" at Albom (unless they've 'been there'). There's practically nothing to disprove! In my opinion, his version of Heaven is too rigid. Why only 5? What if the dead guy don't dig all this touchy-feely airy-fairy stuff? What if Osama died?

That is why I find it impossible to empathize with Albom's writing. Cannot identify and cannot believe. Cannot extrapolate also (reason why I love utopian/dystopian fiction). Therefore, impossible for me to shed tears.