My Tuesdays With Morrie Essay, Research Paper

Journal 21

“ I felt the seeds of death inside his shriveling frame, and as I laid him in his chair, adjusting his head on the pillow, I had the coldest realization that our time was running out.”(Pg. 59) That is what Mitch Albom, a journal writer for the Detroit Free Press, said as he lifted his old college teacher from his wheelchair to his recliner. His old college teacher was Morrie Schwartz, a man that is dying from ALS otherwise known as Lou Gehrig disease. As the book goes on, Morrie reaches out to people who want to talk and he teaches them about the real lessons of life, while he is lying on his deathbed.

Mitch Albom is flipping through his TV stations one night and he heard these words come from his TV set- “Who is Morrie Schwartz?”- and Mitch went numb. Mitch found out through the TV show Nightline that his life long friend and teacher was dying and Mitch knew that he had to go and see him. Mitch went to see his old college professor and what started out as a one-day meeting turned out to be a four-month “class”.

The class is conducted in Morrie’s house in a suburb of Boston, there are no books or any other students, just Mitch and Morrie. Through out this class Morrie teaches Mitch the lessons of life, lessons such as death, fear, aging, greed, marriage, family, society, forgiveness, and a meaningful life. As Morrie’ conditions worsen, Mitch’s condition is getting better, Mitch is becoming a better person with the help of Morrie. Finally Morrie’s life comes to an end, and Mitch graduates from Life 101.