The five people The five people you meet in you meet in

heavenheavenByBy

Mitch AlbomMitch Albom

Some Press FeedbackSome Press Feedback ““A book with the genuine power to A book with the genuine power to

stir and comfort its readers…..” New stir and comfort its readers…..” New York TimesYork Times

““Fans of Tuesdays with Morrie will be Fans of Tuesdays with Morrie will be delighted with this novel….” Peopledelighted with this novel….” People

““Albom has the ability to make you Albom has the ability to make you cry in spite of yourself….” Boston cry in spite of yourself….” Boston GlobeGlobe

““Transcendent…Albom has aimed Transcendent…Albom has aimed high.. there’s a whiff of paradise..” high.. there’s a whiff of paradise..” Atlanta Journal-ConstitutionAtlanta Journal-Constitution

What may have inspired What may have inspired this piece of work …this piece of work …

““Everyone has an idea of heaven , as Everyone has an idea of heaven , as do most religions, and they should do most religions, and they should all be respected. The version all be respected. The version represented here is only a guess, represented here is only a guess, wish in some ways, that my uncle , wish in some ways, that my uncle , and others like him – and others like him – people who felt people who felt unimportant here on earth –realize, unimportant here on earth –realize, finally, how much they mattered and finally, how much they mattered and how they were loved……”how they were loved……”……….Mitch ……….Mitch AlbomAlbom

What is this story about ?What is this story about ?

This is a story about a man named Eddie, This is a story about a man named Eddie, and it begins at the end, with Eddie dying and it begins at the end, with Eddie dying in the sun. It might seem strange to start in the sun. It might seem strange to start a story with an ending. a story with an ending.

Eddie was an 83 year -old man and he Eddie was an 83 year -old man and he maintained the rides at an amusement maintained the rides at an amusement park at Ruby Pier.park at Ruby Pier.

He was known as Maintenance or The Ride He was known as Maintenance or The Ride Man at Ruby Pier.Man at Ruby Pier.

The way Eddie lived…and The way Eddie lived…and dieddied

Eddie exists in a “weary state of Eddie exists in a “weary state of acceptance”.acceptance”.

Fifteen of Eddie’s birthdays are Fifteen of Eddie’s birthdays are highlighted to show the change in his life highlighted to show the change in his life from a carefree little boy to an aimless from a carefree little boy to an aimless old man.old man.

Through hindsight and flashbacks stories Through hindsight and flashbacks stories from Eddie’s life tell us a lot about the from Eddie’s life tell us a lot about the disintegration of a young soldier to a disintegration of a young soldier to a shuffling arthritic octogenarian.shuffling arthritic octogenarian.

The five people Eddie meets The five people Eddie meets in heaven in heaven

The Blue ManThe Blue Man The Captain (Eddie’s soldier boss)The Captain (Eddie’s soldier boss) Ruby (the lady the Pier was named Ruby (the lady the Pier was named

after)after) Marguerite (Eddie’s wife)Marguerite (Eddie’s wife) Tala (the little girl killed in the war)Tala (the little girl killed in the war)

Some of them were very close to Some of them were very close to Eddie, the others he hardly knew at Eddie, the others he hardly knew at all !!!!all !!!!

Each person tells Eddie Each person tells Eddie something strange or something strange or

interestinginteresting ““you did….(kill me)..” says the Blue Manyou did….(kill me)..” says the Blue Man ““I was the one who shot you,”says the I was the one who shot you,”says the

CaptainCaptain “ “ I am here to tell you why your father died” I am here to tell you why your father died”

says Rubysays Ruby ““you need to forgive your father”,says Rubyyou need to forgive your father”,says Ruby “ “ I was right here. And you loved me I was right here. And you loved me

anyway”,says Margueriteanyway”,says Marguerite ““why sad?..children, you keep them safe”- why sad?..children, you keep them safe”-

TalaTala

The first lesson Eddie The first lesson Eddie learntlearnt

““……there are no random acts…. we are there are no random acts…. we are all connected. You can no more all connected. You can no more separate one life from another than you separate one life from another than you can separate a breeze from the wind.” can separate a breeze from the wind.”

““strangers are family you have yet to strangers are family you have yet to come to know”…says the Blue Mancome to know”…says the Blue Man

“ “no life is a waste. The only time we no life is a waste. The only time we waste is the time we spend thinking we waste is the time we spend thinking we are alone..”are alone..”

The second lesson Eddie The second lesson Eddie learntlearnt

““Sometimes when you sacrifice Sometimes when you sacrifice something precious, you’re not really something precious, you’re not really losing it. You’re just passing it on to losing it. You’re just passing it on to someone else”, says the Captain. someone else”, says the Captain.

““forgive me..(about the leg)..that’s forgive me..(about the leg)..that’s what I have been waiting for”, says what I have been waiting for”, says the Captain.the Captain.

The third lesson that The third lesson that Eddie learntEddie learnt

““Holding anger is a poison. It eats Holding anger is a poison. It eats you from inside….hatred is a you from inside….hatred is a curved blade…the harm we do…we curved blade…the harm we do…we do to ourselves”, says Rubydo to ourselves”, says Ruby

“… “… no one is born with anger. And no one is born with anger. And when we die the soul is freed from when we die the soul is freed from it.”it.”

The fourth lesson that The fourth lesson that Eddie learntEddie learnt

““Love lost is still love….it takes a Love lost is still love….it takes a different form, that’s all. You can’t different form, that’s all. You can’t see their smile or bring them food…see their smile or bring them food…or move them around a dance or move them around a dance floor..but when those senses floor..but when those senses weaken, another heightens. weaken, another heightens. Memory. Memory becomes your Memory. Memory becomes your partner. You nurture it . You hold it. partner. You nurture it . You hold it. You dance with it…”You dance with it…”

““Life has to end. Love doesn’t”, says Life has to end. Love doesn’t”, says MargueriteMarguerite..

The fifth lesson that The fifth lesson that Eddie learntEddie learnt

““I was sad because I didn’t do anything I was sad because I didn’t do anything with my life….I accomplished nothing…I with my life….I accomplished nothing…I felt like I wasn’t supposed to be there…”felt like I wasn’t supposed to be there…”

““Supposed to be there….main ten ance”Supposed to be there….main ten ance” ““Where? fixing rides…that was my Where? fixing rides…that was my

existence..?”existence..?” ““Children ..you keep them safe…you Children ..you keep them safe…you

make good for me….”says Tala.make good for me….”says Tala.

What I learnt from What I learnt from Eddie..and his workEddie..and his work

People are there, or would be People are there, or would be there, because of the simple and there, because of the simple and mundane things Eddie had done mundane things Eddie had done in his life, the accidents he had in his life, the accidents he had prevented, the rides he had kept prevented, the rides he had kept safe, the unnoticed turns he had safe, the unnoticed turns he had affected every day….affected every day….

The most important The most important lesson of alllesson of all

““All endings are also All endings are also beginnings. We just don’t beginnings. We just don’t know it at the time….”know it at the time….”