With the world in such bad shape, with more wars and riots and illnesses that we seem not to be able to control, with the fighting renewing itself once again in Israel and Gaza and Qatar sticking its nose where it does not belong, the world is a depressing place. Nor does it help that there are issues here, in our own village, that are of vital importance and must be settled, difficult as it may be with pronounced differences in philosophy of the opposing factions.
So we must look elsewhere for hope, for stories that make one fele good, more optimistic in life and I found one that is legend in our family, one that we joke about, yet also look towards with warmth and affection. It is a story of a boy and a girl, a couple, who would have been married 74 years this Saturday and actually, I believe they will be celebrating it together with G-d. Even He cannot resist this story and love.
At 16 and 14, this boy and girl, both coming from loving but poor homes, devastated by the Depression, found each other in the HES in Brownsville, Brooklyn. All it took was one look, and that was it. He chased her around the building, laughing and she giggling, and there was no one else ever, for them. Marrying young, they had four children, two boys and two girls, and they raised them with love, with respect and with hope for the future. Their children were top priority, but always, there was the Blanchie and Natie equation, and he, so firm in his dealings with others, was a marshmallow with his Blanchie.
Their lives had ups and downs, in finance and health, but always they managed, and Natie became a judge, well respected and a man to whom people came for advice. For Blanche it was all about family, only family, and then friends. Charity donations were important to them and they gave generously, always remembering their deprivation in childhood.
The day came when separation loomed.. Natie was dying and they were devastated. Their dream had been to go together, always together, but it was not to be. His concern was only that his Blanchie be taken care of and so she was, by her family and certainly by her granddaughter and grandson in law who welcomed her into their home with love and honor and there she lived for several more years, surrounded by her great grandchildren who deeply loved and treasured her.
But always, always, her wish was to return to her Natie. "He left me," she would say. "I need him. I miss him." The last two years of her life she was tired, so tired and her condition deteriorated no matter what was done. We told her that her Natie still needed a vacation from her, was preparing Heaven and G-d for her and she needed to stay with us. We missed our father and grandfather so we needed her.
But it was not to be. During the last two months of her life she was barely functional, truly unable to sit upright without help, barely able to speak or keep her eyes open. She had around the clock care with several wonderful caregivers , yet the end had come. One day, sitting in her favorite chair by the window where she could see her beloved birds, suddenly, she sat upright, opened her eyes wide and clearly said, with a huge smile on her face, a look of happiness and joy shining, glowing, "Natie, you're here!" And with that, my mother and father were together again. A love of a lifetime, childhood sweethearts and lovers eternal, together again.
Happy Anniversary. We miss you both so much, more than be expressed. Forget the diabetes, Ma, and eat the cake, chocolate of course. Pop, I miss my teacher, my adviser, my role model and will always love you. Enjoy the day.
No comments:
Post a Comment