Build with Clay #125: Luxuries
A bi-weekly newsletter sparking personal growth
Hi, reader!
Today’s trivia: The average healthy adult produces 1-2 liters of what each day?
With that, welcome to the 125th newsletter! This one is all about Luxuries.
A Story.
On the second to last day of my dad’s life, he provided a moment I will never forget.
To set the stage, ALS had stripped everything from him except his ability to use his eyes. In order to communicate, he had to look at a large, clear letter board that I would stand behind to see which letter he was looking at.
So that evening, I grabbed the letter board and stood behind it to see what he wanted to say.
He spelled out D-I-E.
Trying to be helpful, I cut him off and said, “Yes, you’re going to die.”
He shook his head.
Next letters: T-C-O-K-E
Yep.
The man, who has not had anything to eat or drink by mouth for 6 months, just spelled:
DIET COKE.
I said it out loud and he nodded.
I’m thinking, if this man’s final wish is to have a Diet Coke, we are damn well getting him one!
I asked, “Anything else?”
He started spelling again, C-O, I jumped in again to help save his energy. “Yes, I know, you want a Coke.”
He kept spelling…L..D. “Ok, you want a Cold Diet Coke tomorrow, got it.”
The spelling continued…
N-O-C-A, I jumped in, “No caffeine?”
Another letter came…N…N-O-C-A-N? “Ohh, no can, you want it in a bottle?”
He nods his head, yes. I’m thinking, wow, this is quite the detailed request. So he wants a cold Diet Coke out of a bottle tomorrow.
The spelling continued. B-U-B
“Bubbly? You want it extra bubbly, extra crisp, don’t you?”
He nodded his head and smiled.
“So you want a cold, bubbly, Diet Coke out of a bottle tomorrow?”
A nod. Order complete.
The next day, he loved his sips of that cold, bubbly Diet Coke on his final day on earth.
A thought.
ALS had stripped my dad of every little luxury of life.
And all he wanted on that final day was to experience a little luxury before he passed.
These little luxuries of life are often taken for granted.
The luxury of being able to leave your house.
The luxury of tasting the food you are consuming.
The luxury of being able to have uninterrupted sleep.
The luxury of saying hello to someone when they walk in the door.
The luxury of the cold, carbonated bubbles of your favorite beverage hitting your mouth.
Which of life’s little luxuries do you enjoy most? When is the last time you paused to appreciate it?
A quote.
“Luxury to me is not about expensive things; it’s about living in a way where you appreciate things.”
- Oscar De La Renta
Answer: Saliva
Your story really touched me! Some day I may call you about this.
Thank you for sharing this very emotional story.