Anna's Story - Part Five

Everyone is laughing, singing and clapping.  Anna sips her tea as she winks at Peter.  He comes over, kisses her forehead and squeezes her shoulder.

“I love you, Ma.” 

Her eyes begin to water.  She doesn’t ‘hear’ the words often yet he shows his love every day, just like his father. She sits watching the youngest showing off with somersaults, her mind drifts to the day Steve proposed.

It was the end of October, 1930. It was Indian summer.  The week before had been cold and damp.  The trees were bursting with color.  Red, gold and orange leaves gently falling around them.  Anna had packed a picnic for them. She was sure it would be their last before winter.  Stephen drove them out to the country in the used Parkard he had bought at the beginning of summer.

The quilt was spread on a blanket of leaves.  Stephen seemed quiet to Anna.  He normally would out talk her about the plans he had.  She asked several times if he was alright. 

“Let’s go for a walk Anna.”

As they walked, Anna chattered on about her new job as a bookbinder.  She enjoyed the work.  She enjoyed even more the freedom having her own money gave her.  She gave her parents money then put the extra left in a mason jar inside her winter boots.  She would take money out now and again to buy material for a new dress or a wedding gift for a friend getting married.  Anna wanted to make sure she had money for a rainy day.  The depression had frightened her.

“Anna? Anna? Anna!” Stephen finally stopped walking and pulled Anna to a stop next to him.

“I love to listen to you.  But Anna, I have something important to say.”

“Sorry, go ahead then.  Something is wrong, I’ve had the feeling all day.”

“No”, Stephen said.  Anna could see his mind was somewhere else.  “Nothing is wrong.  In fact, I hope everything is going to be right.  I had a talk with your father after church last week.  Anna, he has given me your hand, if you will have me.”

Anna hid a smile, she knew it was coming.  Her mother had mentioned the talk between Papa and Steve.  As she was saying yes, Stephen was putting the ring on her finger.  It fit her perfectly.

The rest of the afternoon was spent talking about their future.  By the time they reached Anna’s house, they had decided on a February wedding. 

Christmas was spent with Anna’s family.  Stephen’s family was still in Europe.  They wouldn’t be making the trip for the wedding.  Anna was disappointed.

There was a large box under the tree for her.  Stephen took pictures as she opened it.  Inside was a notebook titled “Steve’s Favorites” filled with recipes. There was a photo album filled with pictures of people she would soon be related to.  Wrapped carefully at the bottom of the box was white netting.  It was so delicate.  It was trimmed with a crochet boarder.  It was at least ten feet long.

“Steve?  Your mother did this for me?” Anna was holding back the tears.

Stephen laughed.  “She has been working on this since I told her I saw you walking passed the house.  I’ve written her every week and sent so many pictures.  She feels she knows you.”

“I will cherish this always.”

During the weeks before the wedding, Stephen bought his bride her wedding gift; a house on the edge of the city.  He missed having his family with him so insisted on having her parents live with them.

The day finally arrived.  Anna wasn’t nervous.  She was just excited.  As the organ began to play, Celeste began her walk down the long aisle of the church.  Andrew took another last look at his prinzessin.

“You finally have your gypsy.  You can always change your mind. Say the word and we can leave”

“No Papa, I’m very sure.” She touched his hand, “It’s time.”

When asked who gave the bride away, through tears, Andrew gave her hand to Stephen. 

Stephen leaned down to Anna’s cheek, “It seems a life time passed waiting for you.”

Peter saw Anna smile and close her eyes.  He took her hand and knew his mother was gone.  He knew she was happy where she was by the smile.  He’d seen that smile on her face every time she looked at his father. 

He kissed her forehead, “Happy birthday, Ma.”

Anna's Story - Part Four

When Stephen kissed her, she felt week in the knees and felt her heart race.  None of her beaus had ever made her feel this way.  As he pulled away, she looked deep into his eyes.  This was her Gypsy after all.  One day, he would be hers and hers alone.

Stephen asked to see her again the day but she couldn’t.  She quickly asked him for Sunday dinner.  He agreed.  She smiled, turned and went through the door.    She saw a quick movement from the corner of her eye as her father had just made it to his chair.

“I’ve invited Stephen to supper”, she said walking over to her father.  He sat in his favorite chair.  She came up from behind him and hugged him around the neck.

“Please behave!” she scolded as she kissed the top of his bald head.

With the arm he had left from the railroad accident a few years before, he hugged her back. 

Winking at his wife, he told Anna, “It will be painful mein Tochter, very painful.”

With that, she swatted the top of his head and floated up the stairs to bed.  She dreamed of her future. 

Spring cleaning completed and the afternoon meal started, Anna and her parents walked to mass.  Her head was fixed forward as her eyes searched for Stephen. She spotted him with a group of young men from the parish.  He glanced. She quickly moved her gaze to the doorway of the church.  She felt herself blush. It seemed to grow from her toes. 

She thought to herself, “What could he possibly see in a girl like me?  I’m such a child, blushing at the sight of him,”

Stephen glanced in Anna’s direction and saw her blush.  He pretended he was talking to his friends but watched her every move. 

“Talk to you later, I have someone I have to talk to”, said Stephen as he walked away from his friends.   He didn’t walk up Anna but up to her father asked permission to court his daughter.  Permission was reluctantly given. 

And so their courtship began.  They spent most of their time together on the porch or in the parlor where Anna’s father kept a watchful eye on the two of them.  Mary knew her daughter wanted to be alone with Stephen and did her best to distract her husband.  Stephen saw Anna every day after work.  He would stop and she would have a plate ready for him.  It had become customary he read the paper to Mary in her native German.  He managed to capture the hearts of both of Andrew’s women.

Anna’s graduation and eighteenth birthday came and went.  There was no need for a chaperone.  She and Stephen stopped sitting on the porch. They took long rides in the country. They’d talk of about the future.  By the end of summer, the two saw each other every day.   

Anna looks around the room at her family.  She knows Steve would be proud of them too.   They were all strong and happy.  As she reaches for her tea, Heidi touches her hand and smiles, you look so happy Oma.”

“Who wouldn’t be with all the love in this room?”

Anna's Story - Part Three

He stood in the shadows of the front porch, smoking a cigarette.  He watched the girls walk by the house.  Normally, Stephen wouldn’t be home this time of day.  But today was his day of independence.  He was becoming a citizen of the United States.  This past year left him very little time to be social.  He came to this country, leaving everything behind after the war.  There wasn’t much left.  He wanted more for himself than he would have had in Europe.  He had been living with friends of his parents for the past year.  He worked for the railroad during the day and went to school at night.  He was ready to bust, he wanted to be out on his own.

He never noticed her before today.  She was beautiful. She had dark brown hair that shined like chestnuts in the sun.  She wore it n the flapper bob popular at the time.  Her eyes were as dark as a doe’s and had the same look of innocence.  Her cheeks were blushed with the kiss of the wind.  Her laugh sounded like glass wind chimes, delicate as it filled the air.  This girl stirred something in him he hadn’t felt since coming to America or back home for that matter.  He wanted to get to know her. 

A few weeks later, there was a community dance at Sacred Heart.  Stephen decided to attend but did not take a date. He was hoping they would meet.  He had been late to work a few times, waiting, wanting to see her as she went by.   He knew her name was Anna.  He had asked around the neighborhood.  Everyone knew her.  She was very popular with the young and old.  Anna was a good Catholic girl from a good family.  The more he heard, the more he wanted to know.  

The basement of the church was decorated for the spring dance.  Flowers from Easter were used as centerpieces.  The tables were covered in white linen sprinkled with petals.  Paper streamers hung from the ceiling at the support poles. They looked like maypoles to be danced around.  Mr. Stueben, carpenter and neighborhood handy man, created a gazebo to use as the dance floor. More streamers and flowers sprayed the gazebo.  Chinese lanterns were hung from the ceiling among the streamers, giving the impression of a soft, warm spring day in a country meadow.  Spring had been cold and wet. Cabin fever set in the last blizzard. The neighborhood was ready to venture outdoors to see their neighbors.  Stephen had become friends with one of Anna’s neighbors so he would have a proper introduction to her.

“Stephen, my boy”, Mr. Drawer bellowed.  He was doing his best to be discreet with his introductions. He was not an expert at being discreet.  “Please meet Anna; she is the daughter of my good friends, Andrew and Mary.  I’m sure she will be happy to introduce you to the other young people here at the dance.”

“Anna, the pleasure is mine.” Stephen took her hand in his, kissed it softly.  “It would please me very much if I could be your escort this evening. Unless, of course, you are here with someone.”

He knew she was alone with her parents.  Several young men asked Anna but she had turned them all down. 

Anna replied, “Of course, I would be happy to you to around.  I see the Bloombergs and the Sonnenfelds over there, both very prominent.  Both have lovely daughters.  I am assuming it’s the reason for the introductions.”

“No”, leaning toward her, he whispered, “the reason for the introduction was to meet you.  I could think of no other way.”

“Humpft, maybe coming up to me and saying, ‘Hello, my name is Stephen Zak…oh”, she gasped.  She forgot Mr. Drawert did not mention his last name.  A blush came to her cheeks.  He smiled down at her, knowing then that she was just as interested in him.  She was outspoken which interested him even more.  He spent the rest of the evening holding her in his arms as they danced.  She came only to his chest and he had to bend down to hear her.  Others tried to cut in but Stephen had not allowed it.  It was clear she was his. As the night began to wind down, Stephen asked Andrew if he could walk her home.  Andrew looked questioningly at Mary who nodded slightly.  He looked from his wife’s face to his daughter’s.  He found this was an argument he would lose if he tried.  He felt as if Anna was slipping through his fingers, but also felt the need to let go of her. 

He took Stephen’s hand in his own and said, “Fine, bring her home safe.”

Once outside, Stephen placed his coat around Anna’s shoulders and kept his arm there a bit longer than he needed.  He ran his right hand down her left arm slowly.  He took her hand in his, her fingers curled around his.  They walked hand in hand slowly toward her home. As they walked, she gave a small history of who lived in this house or who owned that store.  He could have listened to her for hours.  Her voice was as sweet as a lullaby.  The walk ended much faster than he wanted it to.  As they reached her front door, he turned her to face him.  They stood there, Anna looking up at him.  Her eyes searching his; she had looked into his soul.  Stephen cupped her face in his hands and brought his mouth down over hers.  He kissed her gently.

As he pulled away from her, Stephen saw his future in Anna’s eyes.  Tonight he knew he found the woman he would spend the rest of his life with.  Walking backward toward the street, he asked if he could call on her the next day.

“No, I’m busy. I have to help with the spring cleaning.”  She saw the hurt expression on his face, even in the shadows.  “But, please come over after mass on Sunday.”

Smiling, he called out, “Nothing would please me more.  See you then.”

Anna turned to go into the house.  Stephen turned and found he was walking with a bounce in his step and he could still taste her sweet lips on his as he whistled on his way home.

Anna's Story - Part Two

 The crowd parts like the Red Sea as she makes her way to the parlor.

“Mein leibhaber, mein Zigeuner, my Steve!” her voice cracks with emotion and age.   A life-size portrait of her husband stands before her.  She has been widowed for over 50 years and never stopped loving or missing him.  He is her gypsy. The man she fell in love with all those long years ago.

Heidi had the life-size photo of her grandfather made from an old wedding photograph for the party.  There were also enlargements of other missing family members who have been gone so very long.  Pictures of Anna’s parents, her brothers and their wives are placed around the room.   Her sister, Mary, gone 100 years, is the only one missing.  Anna never met her older sister and there were no pictures of her.  As Anna stands there, her family begins surrounding her.  Her favorite great-granddaughter and Heidi’s youngest, Katrina, is standing next to her. 

“Grandma, are you okay?  You look like you have seen a ghost.” Katrina slips her arm around Anna’s waist giving her a gentle hug.

Anna’s voice cracks as she replies, “Yes, Trina. I am just lost in my memories.”

“Come, sit down and I’ll fix you a cup of tea.  Relax and have fun.” says Katrina.

As Heidi wheels in the cake, ablaze with 90 candles, Anna looks into Heidi’s eyes.  Heidi sees how pleased Oma is but also sees something else, a flicker.  It’s like a candle almost blown out in the wind.  As Anna’s family gathers around the cake and sings, Anna’s thoughts move back over her long life.  She grew up in what was known as The Valley.  The neighborhood is still called that.  Her granddaughters call her ‘The Original Valley Girl’.  At the time, the neighborhood was filled of Hun-Austrian immigrants.  Her parents had moved back and forth from Austria to America several times before her Papa told her Mother to choose a country.  With Europe on the brink of The Great War, American was where they would make their permanent home.

When she was a young woman in her late teens, a family from Czechoslovakia had moved into the neighborhood.  With them they brought a border; a young man of 20.   To Anna, the gypsy was the most handsome man she ever laid eyes on.

 Anna went to the Catholic school in her neighborhood with her best friend, Celeste.  She had them changed their route to school in order to pass the Gypsy’s house.

Leaning toward Anna, Celeste whispered, “Ann, I don’t understand why you have to take the long way to school.  That new fella goes to work very early in the morning.  He’s been gone for hours!”

“Yes, I know Celeste, you tell me that every morning.” Anna said with a sigh. “What if he is late one day?  I want you to see him, he’s so handsome.  I’ve decided to marry a gypsy like him someday.”

Celeste rolled her eyes.  “And you tell me that every morning!”

Just about a month away from graduation Anna and Celeste had their heads together; whispering in low voices to one another.  Anna felt eyes on her.  It was almost as if they were burning into her soul.  She looked over her shoulder. The gypsy was watching her.   She never told Celeste. After a year of taking the detour she never stopped complaining of the extra blocks.  She looked into his eyes; certain he would be the gypsy she would marry. 

Peter’s voice brought her back from the past.

“Ma, it’s time to open presents.  Are you feeling alright?  You look a little pale.”

“I’m fine Peter.  Let’s get the young ones to help this Old Grandma open this mountain.”

Anna's Story - Part One

April rain is beating against Anna’s windowpane.  She stands staring but not seeing the garden.  As she finishes getting ready for yet another birthday, she finds it so unbelievable the years have gone so quickly.

She buried her parents, brothers, and husband.  While her mind feels like thirty something, her body feels all of its 90 years.  As memories race though her mind, there is a knock on her door.  Her son, Peter, and his family planned this milestone party.

“Milestone”, she thinks.  “A party for outliving my friends and most of my family?”

Anna opens the door for Peter.  He looks so much like his father.  As he bends down to kiss her cheek, he says, “Are you ready, Ma?  Everyone is waiting for you to start the party.   You look beautiful tonight, the belle of the ball.”

She clicks her tongue.  “A belle he says; a tarnished bell!”

With his help, they descend the stairs to the foyer below.  What is left of her family and friends have gathered around the foot of the stairs.  Almost 100 years ago, her beloved Papa would have called her his prinzessin; tonight she feels every inch the queen.

Anna looks around.  Her son, his wife and their five children, their spouses, all the grandchildren, nieces and nephews and their families have gathered to celebrate her birth.

She goes to each one, caresses his or her face with her hands and cries out, Oh! Mein libeling!”  Each one accepts her caress as a loving kiss.  Of course, the younger ones squirm a bit, but enjoy their Oma more than they will let on.

Anna’s eyes move from her youngest grandson to the parlor just beyond the French doors.  The sight brings tears to her eyes.

Healthier Me

I've chosen a healthier lifestyle for reasons, which for the moment escapes me. I've come to the conclusion the next time someone passes over and hear the phrase, "He was so healthy", I'll have an idea what killed him.  It was the healthy lifestyle.

My quest for a healthy self being was purely by accident. I had come down with severe bronchitis. Ugly bronchitis I might add. So ugly in fact, my family thought I was dying. I thought I was dying. The thought of becoming a single parent terrified my husband. The thought of becoming any kind of parent scared him. He's the self proclaimed "good cop" in this parent union. And while I'm sure my daughter loves me, I am the bank and taxi. She experienced firsthand what it was like to have Dad as both of these. The bank was always closed and the taxi service was limited at best. To be honest, if it weren't for the two of them, I often wonder if I would still be here. My husband took me to and from doctor appointments, had prescriptions filled and actually cooked.

If you have ever had an albuteral treatment, you know having a cigarette is like having your lungs set on fire. As a result of the bout, I stopped smoking.   I'd tried before without success; mostly from fear. Fear of having a heart attack like my father did when he quit. Fear of gaining a ridiculous amount of weight...which I did. Twenty months after I "kicked" the smoking habit, I thought the so called experts where all quacks. I did not feel better. Friends and family who had quit all told me it took a year to really feel better. It didn't. I was feeling worse. It was the ridiculous amount of weight I gained. I'd added about 50 extra pounds.  And I’m no Twiggy to begin with!  Of course I knew I had to lose that weight. And lose it without picking up a cigarette again.

Then it happened. I schlepped up to my desk at work, dropped my bags and saw the flyer sitting there.

BIGGEST LOSER

$10.00 Entrance fee

First place, the growing weekly pot

Second place, your $10 entry fee

Two in last place each week pays $2.00 each

You know it's amazing what cash and public humiliation will do as a motivator. I put my ten dollar bill in the hands of a co-worker. No turning back now. I was escorted to the scales; eyes closed. I knew I was overweight but didn't want or have the need to see how overweight. I didn't want to know. The first week I lost five pounds. The second, I gained one. With that, changes really needed to be made.

Thanks to the internet, I have learned more than I would have ever if we didn't have it. I have learned the basics of shooting, fly fishing, cleaning trout, finding my family history and how to diet.

After surfing site after site and linking to link after link one thing became clear....you have to eat to lose weight! Who knew? Okay, most of you knew but who BELIEVED? It's true. I have to eat a set amount of calories each day. That leads me to my next least favorite thing, counting calories. Boring, very boring. However, because of technology, we now have smartphones. Phones which are smarter than a fifth grader! Phones with applications. More surfing, just call me Gidget.  I found the perfect app and it links to an internet site.  The best part?  It practically does everything for me.  Calories are now counted and totaled before my very eyes.

It also became evident exercise is also an important factor in this road to my lifestyle change. I'd rather have open heart surgery.  Oh, wait a minute.  I'm doing all this to avoid open heart surgery.  Let the walking begin.  The first week was a push and I was short of breath on a regular basis.  But the walks began getting longer and the shortness of breath less. My daughter has seen the slow improvement in my health; she now walks with me.  After glares which have been known to stop trains in their tracks, my husband fixed our bikes and we pedal our way through the "hood" at least once a week.  My adventures in exercise will most definitely be an upcoming blog.

So here I am, two months into my healthy lifestyle; 28 pounds lighter.  I've learned from this experience. Healthy is hard.  Healthy is time consuming.  Healthy is the support and prayers I have from friends and family.  Healthy will probably not really kill me.  And most important, if I don't win the contest jackpot?  Healthy will be me.