February 12, 2010
Dear Dan:
We miss many opportunities during our lives. Living
eleven hundred miles from you during the last twelve years resulted in my
missing the opportunity to be with you during your formative years. Not that we
haven’t kept in touch or that your Dad hasn’t, during every conversation, told
me about you. He is very proud of you, your values, of the person who you have
become.
Eventually I will die; no getting around it; I will
die. Every living thing eventually dies. I am not afraid of death. I am,
however, afraid of being forgotten; of not being remembered.
I was never one for collecting things. I do not have
many items which are exclusively mine. I never liked jewelry. I wear a watch
because I want to know what the time is and I wear a wedding band because
Grandma wants me to wear a wedding band.
A half century ago, every Sunday afternoon, Grandma
and I would pack the children in the car and we would drive to places about two
hours from Baltimore; usually historical places like Gettysburg, Frederick and
Antietam. Occasionally we would drive to York ,
Pennsylvania
Some day I hope that you will show that coffee mug to
your children and grandchildren and say,
“This coffee mug belonged to my Zaide, my Grandfather. He was your
great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather. He drank coffee from it almost
every morning. Let me tell you about him.”
Love and hugs and kisses,
ZZZZZZZZZ
