Summary of The Fifth Tuesday, We Talk about Family
In the Fifth Tuesday, the 14th chapter of Tuesdays with Morrie, Morrie and Albom talk about their family, the second subject on Albom’s list of discussion topics. It is September, and kids are going back to school. Morrie’s family is all around him. His sons, colleagues, former students, wife, etc. Morrie describes how family is the only real “foundation” because they are always looking out for you. “If you don’t have the support and love and caring and concern that you get from a family, you don't have much at all.” Morrie says friends are not the same as family. His wife, Charlotte, is always there with her unconditional love.
Then Morrie describes having children. “There is no experience like having children...I would not have missed that experience for anything.” The he describes the hurt he feels in knowing that he has to leave his children so soon.
After that, the conversation shifts to Albom’s family. All Morrie knows of them is what he saw on Albom's graduation day. Albom has one older sister and a younger brother. Albom then describes his brother. Albom and his sister used to tease him, because he looked so different than themselves. “He grew up the way many youngest children grow up, papered, adored, and inwardly tortured.” He dreamed of being an actor. He was the bad student, rule breaker, bright-smiler, drug-trier. Later, Albom’s brother moved to Europe for the easy going lifestyle. To Albom’s horror, his brother developed pancreas cancer, but refuses to keep in touch with his family about his progress in fighting it.
Then Morrie describes having children. “There is no experience like having children...I would not have missed that experience for anything.” The he describes the hurt he feels in knowing that he has to leave his children so soon.
After that, the conversation shifts to Albom’s family. All Morrie knows of them is what he saw on Albom's graduation day. Albom has one older sister and a younger brother. Albom then describes his brother. Albom and his sister used to tease him, because he looked so different than themselves. “He grew up the way many youngest children grow up, papered, adored, and inwardly tortured.” He dreamed of being an actor. He was the bad student, rule breaker, bright-smiler, drug-trier. Later, Albom’s brother moved to Europe for the easy going lifestyle. To Albom’s horror, his brother developed pancreas cancer, but refuses to keep in touch with his family about his progress in fighting it.