A good weekend to you. I got the wisest piece of advice this week, from someone who speaks from hard experience.
Sarah Day is the sister of Summer Day-Stewart, and aunt of Autumn, Ezra, and Emory Day-Stewart. Their family was in the news for a day earlier this month for the most devastating reason. Walter Stewart, the family’s father, is a Chicago firefighter who was in the station house when he heard an alarm go off, and recognized his own address. A fire had broken out in his own home.
He joined other firefighters who rushed to the scene. But his family had already suffered severe smoke inhalation. They were all lost over the days that followed: Summer, 9-year-old Autumn, 7-year-old Ezra, and Emory, who was just 2.
Sarah says Emory often played with firetrucks and said he wanted to be a firefighter, like his father.
We use the word tragic in the news business so often, it can lose all meaning. But the loss of this wonderful family was truly tragic.
And this week, the Stewarts bestowed genuine blessings. Doctors said they will be able to perform at least eight transplant operations, which will save lives, from the organs of the Stewart family.
Sarah says one of Emory’s organs will even go to a firefighter. “So he’ll almost get his wish,” she told us. And she added, “You never know how life can turn. So tell people that you love them. OK? Every time you can.” We should all try.
Our essay this week is on Newark falling for a hoax. But I just couldn’t join the chorus of derision over what seemed to be a good-hearted mistake.
And Mireille Enos, now in the AMC series Lucky Hank, spoke to us about the business of putting life into characters.
Scott Simon is one of NPR's most renowned news anchors. He is the host of Weekend Edition Saturday and one of the hosts of the morning news podcast Up First. Be sure to listen to him every Saturday on your local NPR station, and follow him on Twitter.
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