Someone somewhat ambitious
said, “Once in seven years I burn all my sermons; for it is a shame if I cannot
write better sermons now than I did seven years ago.” I wonder if most writers
feel this away about their work, whether they are sermons, sermon like, and
preachy, or just plain seven years old! 

Call it the seven-year itch,
or that we shed our complete cellular makeup every seven years, but please
indulge my own seven-year “thing” on the occasion of a piece which was
published on November 21, 2005—in Newsweek magazine.

 “Mort’s Library Speaks Volumes About Him” is about getting to know my deceased father-in-law by
the books he kept.  When I knew him he
had dementia and it was nearly impossible to converse with him. But by going
thru his library,  (apparently he read
every book he owned), I realized he had been not only a kind father, country doctor
and classical violinist, but a sensitive, searching man, curious about human
nature, and very aware of the big picture pursuing universal truths.

 I was prompted to reread my
piece after enjoying the recently published, “The End of Your Life Book Club” (Knopf, non-fiction) by Will
Schwalbe. I was fortunate to hear and meet this talented writer at the annual “Beverly
Hills Literary Escape” a must do weekend event for book lovers and book club
mates.

 “The End of Your Life Book Club” is about Mr. Schwalbe and his mother, (an
extra-ordinary person), who have shared a love reading since his childhood.  The mother and son bond is further deepened when
they form their own intimate “book
club” while she is dying of stage four, pancreatic cancer. The Schwalbe’s readings
prompt charming, philosophical and meaningful discussions about life and death,
one’s own mortality and “in the moment” living. For so many reasons, but
perhaps most of all, because of the love of literature, and the meaningfulness
this construes for Mr. Schwalbe and his mother, I guarantee all book lovers will fully appreciate “The End of
Your Life Book Club”.

 The Schwalbe’s get
“togethers” and introspective book “discussions” parallel endless medical and
“palliative” treatments for Anne Schwalbe, and in turn, provide her a stepping-stone
to the dignity of “acceptance.”  In the
meanwhile, Will Schwalbe embraces some of the keenest lessons their last few
months together can offer: the importance of gratitude and selfless work, appreciating
the support of family loved ones, and the gift of lifelong friendships.

 It is a rare book in which an
author manages to so frankly tell a personal story about a loved one with a
terminal illness, while staying refreshingly unsentimental. Better yet Schwalbe never appears detached nor
victimized.  

 Click on the article below to read.