Mitch Albom

But then I realized I'm a lot closer to Maury's age now than my age when that all happened.

And I am trying to...

leave a legacy of the people that I touch because I saw that Maury did.

And I see what's important to me now is who do I influence or is there something that I've learned along the way that I can pass on?

If I can somehow influence people positively, get them to think, the best compliment anybody ever gives me when they read my books is not, oh, wow, what a wordsmith you are or anything like that.

It's

I can't stop thinking about what you wrote or your book really made me think or made me examine my life.

Then I've created a little ripple in the pond, and I'd be very content with that.

Well, that's very kind of you.

I remember, if I remember right, didn't you tell me once you wrote me a letter when you were younger, when you lived in Detroit?

Well, you see, you've answered your last question for me.

You know, you are the answer to that question.

You know, you're going to be here longer than I am, most likely.

And you're going to influence all kinds of people.

And you're a ripple from...

my stone that you'll create ripples of your own and affect other people.

And that's, I mean, I can't tell you how much that means to me.

That's, especially as you get older and you look for some kind of significance, you know, in your life.

That's it.

You're it.