If Nick could spend one more day with someone, he says it would be with his grandfather. "He and I were extremely close. He was almost like a second father to me. We always lived very close to them. I'd go there after school."

Nick says that day with his grandfather would be like so many other days—they'd probably watch sports together. "He was a huge sports fan, as am I," he says. "Those passions he had were definitely passed on to me. I enjoyed the little things—having breakfast with him, going to church with him and vacationing with him."

Why has author Mitch Albom's book touched so many people?

Embrace your life