Why do you deliver the speech?

 

The idea of the speech came to me when I was talking with my mother during our trip to Okinawa a year ago. She told me how hard it was to go through seizures and hospitalization. I was shocked because I had almost forgotten about what had happened. I wrote the speech to remind myself that lives could be fragile, so I should live each day fully. I am hoping that whoever listens to it will feel the same way. “No Day But Today” is the key phrase from the inspirational musical “Rent”. The theme of the musical is strongly connected to my message so I combined them.

 

 

 

 

No Day But Today

 

 

No day but today.  There is no other day but today, so make the most of it.  That’s the message of the song from the Broadway musical “Rent”.  It’s a story about the young people but the person it always reminds me of is my mother.

 

When I was a child, my mom rarely said “study hard, do your homework” and that’s why I could not get in this university.  But she was always my role model.  Working as a kindergarten teacher, and raising four of her own children, she was always busy.   She never wasted any time.  Naturally, I grew up to be exactly like her.  I feel relieved when my schedule has no space left in it.  Don’t you know that feeling?   It’s ironic that being busy relaxes me.  But no-space-left also became an easy excuse.  “Oh, I want to do something special for mom.  Maybe we can travel together.   It would be nice.  But I’m so busy.  I just don’t have time.  Maybe, next year.  Maybe, someday” and it never happened.

 

I thought I had a full life, until one night in July 2002.  My mother suddenly had a seizure.  She collapsed at the entrance of the house with bubbles coming out of her mouth.  When I arrived at the hospital, she was in bed curled up like a cat with tubes running in and out of her body.  Her eyes were half open but they weren’t focused on anything.  I felt as if I was in a scene from a TV show.  It didn’t feel real.

 

Fortunately, three weeks later, she had recovered enough to return home.  I thought everything would go back to normal.  But in fact, it was just the beginning.

 

The following year, on New Years’ Eve, my mom and I talked about our family gathering for New Year’s holiday.  “Mom, when do you want us to come?”, “Any day is fine. Just come”.  Two hours later she had a seizure.  Our family gathered at the hospital on January 1st, New Years’ Day.  I wondered what could go so wrong in just two hours. 

 

About a month later, on Valentine’s Day, we were preparing for my sister’s wedding.  We were all so happy and excited, especially my mom.  “It’s finally tomorrow.  Dress, party, and cake.  It’s going to be wonderful”.  But on the morning of the wedding, again, she had a seizure.  She was taken to the hospital straight from the hotel banquet room.  She missed everything.

 

My mother’s seizures made me realize how fragile a human being could be.  I understood anything could happen to anyone at any time but I didn’t expect I could be that anyone.  Each time on the way to the hospital, I was so afraid it might be the end.  And every time I saw her in the hospital bed, I regretted how little time I’d had for her in my life.  You might say “Don’t worry, there is always tomorrow”.  But what if you are not here?  Or what if you’re here but someone you love isn’t?  There is no day but today.

 

My mom had seven seizures, over three years, and she was lucky to survive.  The experience changed me.  I realized I never wanted to regret another missed opportunity.  So I decided to take a trip to Kyoto with my mom.  Since then, we have visited Osaka, Hiroshima, Kyushu and last year we made it to Okinawa.  During our trips, we always enjoy our girls-talk … I mean “former” girls talk.  Our usual topic is our family… problems.

 

The seizures changed my mother too.  In Okinawa she asked me “Which is better, Red or gold”?  She was talking about her stage dress for a Karaoke Championship on a local TV show.  She is pursuing her long-time dream to be a Karaoke Champion.  I told her “Mom, you’ll look great in either color” and she said “I knew that.  That’s why I asked”.

 

Life is not guaranteed but one thing is certain: you have today.  You have the opportunity, today, to spend time with your family, with your friends, with the people you love.   It’s up to you.   What would you do, if you had no day but today?