This Christmas, my wife gave me The Answer Is..., Alex Trebek's memoir. I am a fairly quick and voracious reader but this was a book that I forced my self to process slowly. I know how the story ends and I know there will be no sequel.
Alex writes in a conversational style, as if he's sitting down with you on a park bench or in a pub and he's sharing stories from his life.
Alex follows a fairly chronological structure, picking up the narrative with his childhood in Canada. But he does not engage in a rote recitation of the milestones of his life. For example, the first you hear of his first marriage to Elaine is when he mentions his divorce from Elaine. Alex does not have much drama to report about this divorce. The split was amicable with Alex and Elaine remaining close friends afterwards.
Indeed there is very little drama in Alex's life. His parents divorce after his mother had an affair is as close to drama as Alex gets in his tale. The main theme of his narrative is that he's been very lucky in his life and his career, counting himself very fortunate in all that he has benefited in terms of fame and wealth.
He speaks with passion for his second wife Jean and of his charitable endeavors. He credits his success on both Canadian and American television to a dedicated work ethic that made him available for so many opportunities, building his reputation has a reputable and professional TV host.
Of course he talks about Jeopardy, the structure of his day and his process for filming episodes. The key to Alex's smooth sense of unflappable style is preparation and study. Alex relates the stories of key contestants who made an impact. Of them all, Ken Jennings seems to have a very special place in Alex's heart.
And Alex talks about the pancreatic cancer that ravaged his life in the last two years. He is very candid about the physical and the emotional toll this disease had on his life. He also accepts his inevitable end with remarkable grace and alacrity. He views his life as full and happy and if it must end, he has no regrets.
The book ends with a soulful description of how he would like to spend his last day on Earth, in the back yard on the swing with his wife Jean by his side, watching the sun set.
After his passing, Jean Trebek confirmed that Alex did get to live his last day as he envisioned it.
It is a bittersweet end to his book with Alex's prescience of how his last day would be lived. The Answers Is... give us a story of a life filled with joy and love, a life well lived.
We should all be so lucky.
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