Who are your five?

Yesterday I began reading The Five People You Meet in Heaven with my juniors. I was very excited because it's the first time all year I get to read a novel with them, since we've been focusing on the FCAT nonstop since day one. Now that that nonsense is over and done with, we can finally get on to the stuff that really matters. Like reading. (Ironic, n'est c'est pas.)

I chose this book because I wanted something that would be an easy sell for both boys and girls, plus I just really love the story. If you've never read it before (gasp), I'll try to tell you a little bit about it without ruining it for you. It's about a man named Eddie who discovers upon dying that he must meet with five people from his past and resolve particular issues with them before he can pass on to his eternal reward. It's such an interesting study of heaven and earth, of life and death, of love and hate, and everything else that comes in between -- all of the intangibles that are so hard to put into words. The author Mitch Albom has that rare gift of putting those intangibles into words.

Before first cracking open the book with my students, I asked them the following short response question: If you had to meet five people before entering heaven, who would your five be and why?

Their answers were largely predictable -- my mom, my dad, my boyfriend, my girlfriend, etc. But one answer took me completely by surprise -- a girl in my class asked, Miss, what if it's a person whose path I haven't crossed yet? Would that be okay? I looked at her for a heartbeat and a half, then decided to go with my gut. Sure, hun, that's fine, I told her. Then I whirled back around and asked, What if I were to tell to tell you that your paths would never cross in life. Would you still want to meet this person in heaven? She looked me right in the eye and gave me a blinding smile. Oh yeah, she said. I couldn't help but smile back.


 picture via we heart it

Who are your five? I'm curious to know your answers, reader. Share them with me in the comments. I'll share mine tomorrow. Oh, and in case you missed yesterday's post, don't forget to enter my giveaway!


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10 comment(s):

Malia said...

Mine are very predictable, I'd just want to see family :) That's what I look forward to in heaven, seeing family that I know and family I've never met.

Unknown said...

Mine are kinda predictable, too. But I have one or two that kind of shocked me when my students turned the question around on me. I'm in process of writing that post -- it'll hopefully go up tomorrow.

Annah said...

Leeners told me this book is really good. And yes, GASP! I haven't read it!

Unknown said...

Annah Banana, get thee to a bookstore TODAY. You won't regret it.

Emma Jade said...

your job sounds so rewarding! I must go and seek that book out!
xxx

Hannahkin said...

*GASP* i haven't read it either... mentally kicking myself in the shins right now :/

do they have to be people who're still alive? my five would probably mostly be family and close friends, too.

when i first thought about it, i thought about all the people i'd love to meet that i've never had the opportunity of meeting before... but then what if i chose them and discovered upon meeting them that they were human like me and not the idols that i've made them into in my mind? i'd feel let down. which would be nasty on my last day alive :)

i also think what the girl in your class said is amazing. and true.

wow. i'm confusing myself! cool question, Annie! :)

i blogged about your giveaway, BTW. so cool! http://tinyurl.com/yfjnrx2 and thanks for commenting on my Pink Chucks :) i haven't been online for a while - gave up internet for lent - which is partially why i haven't blogged for such a long time... also, i use my tumblr more than my blogspot nowadays. but i'll try to use my Pink Chucks often, for you! :)

Hannahkin said...

sorry for the essay :)

Unknown said...

@Emma: Spiritually rewarding? Yes. Financially rewarding? Eh, I'll get back to you on that one. ;p

@Hannahkin: Love your answer. And yes, you do need to read that book! I think you would adore it. :)

Susie From ApplesnFeathers said...

I know at least one person I would meet on my way to Heaven would be my father especially since we never got to know each other before he passed(i was six) I watched the movie but now you've made me want to read the book lol

Unknown said...

i've been meaning to write to you that i LOVE the new look of your blog!!! it looks great! and I haven't read this book yet but I keep hearing about it so perhaps I should...