The Mission
There are defining moments in everyone’s lives, maybe a few, maybe just one, but they’re there, easy to spot. Chris and Eric Reading’s lives are no exception. And a story about The Readings would not be complete without mentioning one such experience…In April of 1990, their mother Bonnie was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, a rare form of bone marrow cancer. For several years, Chris and Eric watched with awe and admiration the courageous battle their mother waged to maintain her quality of life and high spirits in the face of an almost certain fate. At that time, the average Myeloma patient was only living about three years after diagnosis. But through early 1995, Bonnie was doing very well, in remission, and leading a very productive and fulfilling life. Sadly, Multiple Myeloma has no cure. And the good times would not last very long. By May of ‘95, her disease returned, and it stepped-up its assault on her immune system. In late September of that year, after a five and a half year struggle, Bonnie lost her battle. On the morning of the 25th, at just 51, she passed away–with her boys holding her hands and comforting her as she took her last breath.
As anyone who has ever lost a loved one knows, this event, more than any other, causes one to reflect on one’s entire life, past, present, and future. As one looks forward, a lifetime seems like an eternity, but as one looks back it’s just a blur. Life is, at the same time, both too long, and too short, to spend doing anything but the things one enjoys. The last few weeks, days, hours, and minutes with their mother reinforced this lesson, and Chris and Eric vowed to achieve no less in their lifetimes. It wasn’t long before they were in Nashville for good.
Shortly after their arrival in Music City, The Readings penned a poignant song about living with cancer. Inspired by their mother, the message of One of Those Days is clear—life is a precious gift…it can be taken from us at any time…do not take it for granted. Shortly thereafter, the Readings placed a call to the local chapter of The American Cancer Society to inquire about volunteering their time. It just so happened that at that exact time the ACS was actively looking for a song to convey their own message of hope and determination. In One of Those Days, they found precisely what they were looking for:
Cause I wanna have one of those days.
Where I wanna do what I wanna do and not be so afraid.
Have the time of my life; pretend that it won’t have to end.
I wanna have one of those days, today
That I may not have again.
The Readings are on a dual mission—to spread the message of the song and to raise awareness for the fight against cancer. They are performing at special events, sharing their song and story with cancer patients, support groups, and survivors. The experience has been incredible—far beyond the scope of the song.
“The Readings have been fantastic, donating their time on several occasions, performing their song, One of Those Days. They have a personal message to convey and everyone who hears the song truly appreciates the sincerity in it — it is a very moving experience. The American Cancer Society feels very fortunate to have found The Readings.” Teresa Koeberlein, Executive Director, American Cancer Society–Nashville.
From the moment One of Those Days was written, The Readings knew they had a good one on their hands. But it was only after playing it for a group of 500 cancer survivors and supporters at an American Cancer Society function that they began to see the real power in it. Dozens and dozens of people hearing the song for the first time came up after their performance, visibly moved by the story, and let them know that the song perfectly captured what they’d experienced in their own personal struggles. These wonderful, interesting people, with their unique and inspiring stories, just waiting to be told…clearly this was a bigger subject than a three minute song. And an idea was born.
The Readings are currently writing a book based on the theme of the song. Inside the book will be heart warming and heart wrenching personal accounts of lives touched by cancer. Extraordinary lives led by extraordinary people…people just like you. Whether you are a cancer survivor, a cancer patient, a loved-one supporting someone through the illness, or one of the rare few whose life has never been touched by this disease, you will find inspiration in these stories, and perhaps a new appreciation for all the blessings in your life.
