First topic for GT this month would be "Books that made you cry." Immediately, I could name two - "PS I Love You," the Sweet Dreams pocketbook story by Barbara Conklin. Thanks to a high school classmate, I was able to read it. Another would be "The Love Story," which I got to read in my aunt Jo's house; my cousin Dang took it home from Kuwait, and while vacationing in their place, I would read some pages of the book until I fell asleep.
Both stories made me cry, maybe because it dealt with losing a loved one. No one wanted to lose a part of their life, and even if I still haven't lost anyone the time I read the books, I could feel the emotions the characters in the story felt. I am not sure if the "PS I Love You" book was the same as the movie of the same title, but "The Love Story," I loved it so much I bought the VCD copy a few years after I read the book.
One book that made me cry just recently was this book - "For One More Day" by Mitch Albom. I bought this book at an Ukay-Ukay store in Alaminos, Pangasinan (my cousin Dang and I entered the store because it also sells imported beauty products, and she wanted to inquire about the price). Anyway, I already watched "Tuesdays with Morrie" and "The Five People You Meet in Heaven" thanks to TV networks showing the movies, and because both stories were from the same author, me seeing this book got me interested. It was only 4o pesos (or was it 50?) so I decided to buy it.
I finished the book in one sitting, and although the story wasn't a tear jerker, the realizations I had made me cry. It was a story of a baseball player who commit suicide and found himself back in time. Although the story is about a mother's relationship to his son - how she loved him unconditionally, I could relate to it, because my mom and I didn't have a good relationship before. In some points, I could also relate it to my relationship with my dad and how much he loved me. Seeing myself transported back in time (in thoughts) - how I ignored my dad the night before he died even if he reached out to me lots of times that night (I was angry at my mom and didn't want to talk to anyone, including my dad) - It just made me cry. The book has made me realize that even if parents did something bad to their children, most of the time, it was the children who's letting down the parents. I admit, I was guilty.
They say there are no coincidences in life - and I guess me being at that store and seeing the book had a purpose, and the book made me realize the purpose. It was to correct the relationship I have with my mom, while she's still here. Wiping my tears, I am thankful I have this book.
*** Jenn ***
