| December 4, 1993 |
Dear Pappa:
Brother Jerry just called from L.A. to remind me that it's your birthday. As if I did'nt know! Its your 110th!
I must tell you that the older I get the more I feel as if I'm walking in your shoes. More and more I seem to be imitating some of your ways. And I know that most of my thoughts and beliefs, (or unbeliefs), the important ones, originated with you. Of course I have some of dear Mama's traits too: her love of children, people, and flowers.
I was your first, followed by three bright and beautiful young ladies: Rose, Molly and Emily. Then the three Whiz Kids: Sid, Jerry, and Arnold. Just shows that practice makes perfect! And beautiful Lillian; she was such an Angel that God decided she belonged in heaven.
You had a couple of advantages: you used better judgement in your choice of a life partner. You chose the best mother in the world for your brood. If ever there was a marriage made in heaven...
I do not recall any hint that you ever suffered a major illness as a child. Or even a minor one. Until old age and the criminally stupid Doctors interfered. You were always so full of life, carrying on with your numerous grandchildren. How you and Mama managed to endure the twenty horrendous years in Canada...
You recall having to carry me home after a Sunday visit with the Rosner and Brownstones in Plum Coulee? I ended up in the hospital in Winnipeg, 60 miles away. Ten years later bone disease nearly finished me.
I have followed in your footsteps in many ways. I had one h... of a time earning enough to keep the wolf from my door. Your ideas on Life, Liberty and the Pursuit, and especially your innate honesty; all of us absorbed your business ethics just by breathing the same air.
I do not recall that you ever used the strap. A couple of times you reached for your belt. Mama restrained you with a few well chosen words...in Romanian! I'm sure you had no intentions to use it.
I know how much you missed Mama when she travelled to see her mother and sisters. After a couple of days you left your work, drove night and day to be with her.
I recall a few years after Mama died you placed a personal ad for a partner. You described Mama's attributes: you wanted a Clone. Several ladies answered your ad, giving you a piece of their mind. Of course you never found anyone. There never was more than one Mama....
| June 10, 1995 |
Bernice who helped me raise my children, died exactly seven years ago. Now I know what you had been going through. The loneliness is at times almost unbearable. As you so often did, I head for Las Vegas. After one day,I wonder what I'm doing there. Of course there are memories in the casinos. We worked there (and gambled a little) for two years.
I'm trying to recall how long you kept working at your consulting. Since I lacked your cerebral capacity, (a result of the beatings in school?) I've had to depend more on brawn than brain. At 87 I'm picking Avocados.
I'm sure you take great pride in the accomplishments of your gifted progeny. Your last count was 64! They mirror your honesty, integrity and super `family values'.
Jerry recently loaned me a tape you had made. Although you recalled some of your early life in Romania, I for one wish you had written an autobiography. Your life may not have seemed exciting, but all of us here would have appreciated learning about your early life, about your family, especially your father, who died shortly before I was born, Pappa, did you put this strange notion in my head?
It seems to me that because your family name is more Russian than Romanian, that you are `light skinned' your ancestry is Russian rather than Romanian. When I read that around 1650 the Russian citizens of Kazakh converted to Judiasm, I'm convinced that your roots are Christian. The mass conversion was out of sympathy for victims of the progroms.
That is why I have started my life story. I'm sure your grandchildren and greatgrandchildren will be looking for their roots. I will do my best to give them a good picture of the people, places, and events in my life and whatever morsels we, Sid, Jerry and Emily, can discover of your and Mama's history.
I know you will share this with Mama, but I will be writing a special letter to her on her birthday too.
I hope God is not overworking our three Angel sisters. I have an idea: if it's not against the rules, try communicating with me through my dreams. I'm very curious: just how well is Bernice and your two ex daughters-in-laws getting along with each other? I hope they haven't blackballed me!
| June 12, 1995 |
I'm sure you are aware that I suffered a heart attack three weeks ago. Strangely the only pain I have is from the awful medicines. I guess I shouldn't complain. I've cheated the pharmacies and Doctors for over 60 years!
I must get busy at this autobiography before that old man with the scythe comes round. By now you know there must be at least a hundred of us carrying your name. You and Mama will always be in our thoughts and hearts. I know you never believed in the Hereafter stuff, but, if there is a heaven, and I'm sure there is, you and Mamma earned a place at HIS right hand. Do you suppose your progeny will qualify? We had better start thinking. For some of us, time is running out.
Please, Pappa, guide my thoughts and fingers on this key-board as they wander through the years.
| February 15, 1996 |
With the bad luck my Doctors have inflicted on me, I may be joining you sooner than I expected. Kiss Mama for me, I know you will share this. She must know I have a letter on the way for her too.
Your First...
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