Jennifer Curiel

I have never been eighty, fifty, twenty, or even twelve. Yet I think the same way as an old, dead, fictional man that you created and know very well. His name is Eddie. Mine is Jennifer. Our minds seem to blend into one. What I say, he does, what he says, I do too. Eddie took the words right out of my mouth. My thoughts just seemed to melt down onto the pages within the book The Five People You Meet In Heaven for me to read. But at the same time, what happens in the book, surprises me. That is the writing that inspired me.

It's not just that I think the same as he does, I think ABOUT him in my daily life.  Almost the way a dog thinks of her bone. Eddie helps me through daily life, choices I make, words I choose, and better ways to communicate. You and your book taught me that each small, little, thing I do, affects just about everyone. Each step, each glance, each breath I take until I die, and even when I die, is the cause of some things.

My grandma recently died of a kidney infection. When she did, I felt huge regrets. I struggled to tell myself, "She knew I loved her a lot. Yes, yes, she did," but I could only remember the times when I went over to her house because I had to, not because I wanted to. Stress and worry danced around me. I wished I could have had another chance to show her how much I loved her. When that happened in your story, I thought about things so differently. Every now and then, I will think to myself, what if I died right now? Is there something I want to accomplish before I die? Telling some one "sorry," going somewhere, winning something. I never even thought about doing that before I read your book, now I do it so often it seems part of my every-day life.

Only special books can stick with you your whole life, help you do the right things, change you completely, connect with you, and be your friend. That is EXACTLY what your book is for me- a guide, a friend that I can carry in my bag. Connecting with me the whole time, sharing thoughts and ideas, and if I forget something, the same exact thing will be waiting for me. It will be waiting for me in one place, The Five People You Meet In Heaven.