OPENING AN ENVELOPE

OPENING AN ENVELOPE

            It had only been three months since Carrie’s father, Isaac Golding, had died, at the age of 87 years. Even though he had lived a long life, married for many years to his loving wife Eva, until

 she passed away many years ago, Carrie could not help being enormously saddened losing her dad. Carrie, a single woman who taught French at a local high school, lived only a few miles away from her father’s home in southern New Jersey. Her only other sibling, Rebecca, a college professor, lived with her husband Drew Barlowe, a hospital administrator, in Boston, Massachusetts. They would visit Isaac and Carrie when their schedules allowed for time away for long weekends. 

            The Golding family had initially lived in Brooklyn, New York, before Isaac’s government job transferred his entire division of the Department of Defense to a location in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the mid 1960s. It was a difficult move, and a challenging adjustment for the Golding family as they acclimated themselves to living in a New Jersey suburb. Carrie was high school, and Rebecca in college, when the move required them to both to transfer schools. Eva was heartbroken to be living nearly 90 miles away from her sister, Hannah and her family, and also her brother, Jacob’s family. Both Eva and Hannah had a special affection for their younger brother Jacob. Their devotion to him was unbroken, even long after he married his wife, Irene, and became a father to his only son, Willie.

            Eva, referring to their new home’s location, a small developing town called Cherry Hill, often would say to Isaac, “You brought us to a place with no sidewalks.” The neighborhood of the New Jersey suburb was vastly different from Brooklyn’s more cosmopolitan locale.  Eva, having never learned to drive, and had a difficult time adjusting, waiting always for Isaac to drive her to the supermarket, the butcher, and her weekly beauty parlor appointment in their new small town.  In Brooklyn, she could walk to shops, or hop on a bus quite easily. Perhaps Eva felt that she was losing her independence that meant so much to her. Once Carrie was of age, she obtained a driver’s license, and would often chauffeur her mom wherever she needed to go afterschool.

            But Eva’s most monumental disappointment came shortly after the Golding family was still settling in their new home. A horrendous early morning phone call revealed the shocking news that her brother, Jacob, had suddenly passed away in his sleep that night. The traumatic news devastated the entire family. Carrie, then only 15 years old found it difficult to comprehend that her Uncle Jacob had died. Carrie and Rebecca had both been so fond of their uncle. He had always visited their home before he was married, and was a fixture at their dinner table many times a week. Often, he showered Carrie and Rebecca with gifts. One time he gifted Rebecca with a popular Mickey Mouse watch with the famous red patent leather watch band. That same day he bought Carrie, the then popular Toni doll, which Carrie treasured, and would kept forever. 

            Eva and her sister Hannah, were completely grief stricken as they mourned for their younger brother Jacob. After his passing, tensions continued to arise between the two sisters, and Jacob’s wife Irene. Eva and Hannah never thought that Irene was the kind of homemaker and wife that their beloved brother deserved.  A year after Jacob’s death, a final disagreement between Irene and Jacob’s sisters, plunged the family into separate camps, and Irene and little Willie, became estranged from the extended family. 

            Carrie was beginning her college education, and Rebecca was now in graduate school, and the time passed as they became more and more self-involved in their academic lives. As time passed, whenever the holidays rolled around, only Eva’s and Hannah’s family celebrated together. Absent now was their adolescent cousin Willie and his mother Irene. 

            The longer the original feud was allowed to be sustained, the more difficult it became to reconcile. No one even tried. Life went on, time passed, and eventually Hannah, the eldest sister, passed away, and a decade later, Eva was lost to Isaac, Carrie, and Rebecca. There was no shortage of sorrow in the ensuing years as the family decreased in size, losing their two matriarchs. Isaac was upheld with endless support from Carrie and Rebecca. As he aged, and his health declined, both of his daughters shared in the management of his medical care, despite the fact that Isaac was quite coherent throughout his illness. His death was unquestionably heartbreaking for his very devoted daughters. Together they supported each other as they traveled together through the Jewish rituals of mourning by sitting Shiva for a week, and then attending services at each of their synagogues to recite the Kaddish prayers for their dad in the coming months. 

            Eventually, Carrie took on the responsibility of emptying the contents of Isaac’s home so that it could eventually be sold. Many personal objects Carrie brought to her own home, and much was shipped to Rebecca in Boston. Every weekend Carrie tried to determine what would be sold, and what would be donated. Little by little the volume of their parent’s possessions dwindled. On one of the occasions that Carrie was working to lessen the contents of her parent’s belongings she came across a very large manila envelope. Upon opening, Carrie found, and removed a large framed photograph. To her amazement, it was of her Uncle Jacob in his army uniform. The framed, formal portrait appeared to be from his time in the army during World War II. Carrie was momentarily stunned. Also, in the envelope she retrieved more photographs, all of her Uncle Jacob. Some were taken in Paris, France where he had been stationed, and some were snapshots taken outside Carrie’s grandparent’s home during Jacob’s homecoming from the war. Carrie stared at the framed portrait, smiling at the vision of her uncle, revealing a much younger man than as she had remembered him. She put the framed portrait, and photographs back into the large envelope, and returned to her own home carrying the very special images she had unearthed. 

            She waked into her bedroom, and emptied all the photos on her bed, and she sat looking closely at each photograph. It occurred to her, that although these were precious representations of her family’s history, somehow, she thought that perhaps her uncle’s son, Willie, should have these precious mementos revealing important moments of his father’s life. 

            It had been 38 years since the last time she saw her cousin. Carrie had no idea where he lived, or what became of him. All she had were sweet memories of Willie when the family gathered together for holidays, and simple visits when she adored playing with him. Memories, so powerful brought a smile to her face. Carrie then decided to phone Rebecca, and explained what she had found. She conveyed to Rebecca that she thought maybe Willie should have the framed cherished portrait of his dad, along with the other snapshots. 

            She said, “Rebecca, what do you think?”

            “I think you are right,” was Rebecca’s immediate response.

            “But I don’t have an address or even know where he is living. I could mail them to him if I knew.” 

            “Carrie, let me do some investigating on my computer, and see what I can find.”

            “OK. Call me back if you find out anything.”

            Carrie walked into her kitchen to make herself a sandwich. By the time she was ready to take the first bite, her phone rang. Rebecca was calling her back.

            “I found a phone number that I think is him. Has his name, living on Long Island. Sounds like it could be him.”

            “Oh my, should I call him?”

            “We have nothing to lose. Your intentions are good. Call and let me know what happens right away.”

            Carrie jotted down the phone number. She collected her thoughts deciding how she would approach the conversation. A minute or so later, she dialed the number.

            “Hello?” was what Carrie heard as the phone was answered.

            “Hello, is this Willie?” she said.

            “Yes.”

            “This is Carrie, Carrie Golding, your cousin.”

            It only took a moment before Willie reacted, sounding a little surprised. 

            “Oh, how are you?” he replied.

            Carrie began her explanation of why she had contacted him. She mentioned that her parents were both gone, and she was clearing out their home, and found some photographs of his father, her uncle, that she thought he’d like to have. He responded positively, and excitedly to hear from her. Willie proceeded to tell Carrie about his family. When he eventually mentioned that he had four young children, Carrie felt such a tug in her heart. All she could think about was that her sweet Uncle Jacob had grandchildren, that he unfortunately did not live to see. 

            Their conversation was friendly, and Willie kept assuring Carrie that he remembered her, and the rest of her family, despite the fact he was so young when the estrangement occurred, and continued through many, many decades. 

            Carrie was delighted with the very warm reception from Willie. He inquired about Rebecca and then their other cousins, all of whom he explained he remembered quite well. Carrie was so surprised to learn this. Then Willie asked, “Do you still live in Cherry Hill?”

            Carrie smiled that he remembered where his family had lived back then, and responded.

            “I live in another town now, very close to Cherry Hill. In fact, it’s the next town over.”

            Then the most amazing words were uttered by Willie. 

            “I and my family will be in Cherry Hill next weekend. We are attending a Bat Mitzvah for the daughter of one of my high school friends that moved to Chery Hill several years ago.”

            It was incomprehensible to Carrie that Willie was uttering those words. Finally, she responded, “Where in Cherry Hill will you be?”

            “At the synagogue on Saturday morning,” he explained.

            Carrie then said, “Which one? There are a few in Cherry Hill.”

            Willie went to go look at the invitation the family had received, and came back to the phone.

            He said, “Temple Emanuel.”

Carrie was again amazed as she explained, “That is the synagogue I belong to, and I will be reciting the Kaddish there for my father, as I have been doing everyday these past few months.”

            Willie was just as stunned as Carrie, and once he digested what she had said, he further explained that he and his family would be staying overnight at a hotel in the area along with other guests. Thinking quickly, Carrie then suggested that perhaps on Sunday morning they all could meet at her home, and give Willie all the photos she had found of her uncle. He agreed quickly, but also expressed that he would be so happy to meet her at the synagogue while they all attended the Saturday morning services.

            The phone conversation ended with such anticipation of what would happen the following weekend. Carrie quickly dialed Rebecca to relay the entire conversation she had with their cousin. Rebecca was just as thrilled as she learned all about Willie’s life and his family. Unfortunately, Rebecca was scheduled to attend some academic meetings in San Diego the next weekend, and would not be able to come to Carrie’s home for the much-anticipated reunion with their cousin. Carrie promised to take photos of Willie, and his family to share with her sister.

            The week passed and finally it was Saturday morning. As Carrie was getting dressed, she made a point of searching in her jewelry box for a little gold necklace with a heart charm that was given to her by her uncle when she was a child of only ten years old. The back of the gold heart-shaped charm was engraved with the words, “To Carrie, from Uncle Jacob”.  Carrie had kept it all those years. It still looked beautiful against the navy-blue cashmere sweater dress she chose to wear to the synagogue..

            Carrie arrived at services early, and took a seat where she could clearly see anyone arriving into the sanctuary. She was overwhelmed with all sorts of emotions. Not only was she thinking about her uncle, but she was overcome with thoughts of her beloved mother. In these special minutes before she would come face to face with her mother’s brother’s son, she could barely keep back the tears that were determined to fall. 

            Many families arrived at the synagogue, and she watched each as they took their seats. Finally, she spotted a tall man with a woman alongside him, followed by four children. Carrie knew immediately, it was Willie. Her eyes followed their path as they took seats several rows away in another section. Carrie watched as he scanned the sanctuary, and eventually his eyes locked on hers. He silently mouthed her name, and she just shook her head indicating it was her. He got up, and walked over to where she was seated, and they embraced. Carrie’s tears could no longer be held at bay. It was a hug that had been delayed for 38 years. They whispered to each other throughout the service so as not to distract other congregants. Eventually, Carrie showed Willie her necklace, and turned the heart over so he could read the inscription from his father to her. Now, it was Willie’s turn to let a few tears slide down his face as he read his father’s name.

            Customarily, the services ended with the congregation rising and reciting the Mourners’ Kaddish prayer for the dead. There Carrie was, uttering the Hebrew prayer she had been saying every day since Isaac had passed away, but now she was standing shoulder to shoulder with Willie, as he voiced the words alongside her. Never had she felt the presence of both her parents, and her uncle, as she did during this sacred prayer.

            After the services concluded, Carrie was introduced to all of Willie’s family and some of his friends that had also traveled from New York. Many photos were taken, and eventually all the guests of the Bat Mitzvah went to a reception, aa Carrie went home, looking forward to the next day when Willie and family, would arrive at her home for a little visit. She waited till Rebecca phoned her, and Carrie attempted to describe every single detail of the day. They were both overjoyed that this reunion happened, and it was indeed a joyous one. After the call ended, Carrie took out the old framed photo of her uncle in his army uniform. This old photograph was the catalyst that brought Carrie and Willie together after a 38-year estrangement, that they themselves had nothing to do with at that time. 

            The next day, Willie and his family arrived at Carrie’s home. She had bought some toys for his children to take home and play with while Willie and his wife spoke with Carrie. She brought out the envelope with the old photos and as Willie studied each one his face revealed how much he enjoyed these precious gifts he was receiving. He held up the framed army portrait, and gathered around his children, and told them it was a picture of his father. Carrie watched, with a feeling of complete joy. It was a such a warm sensation, one that she had not felt in a long time. 

            That photograph, that was long kept among all the other objects that made up a home filled with lifetime memories, managed to reunite another generation back together again. It demonstrated to Carrie that time can never destroy the genuine fondness people feel for one another. That weekend was a reckoning, a time for accepting loss, and a time for acquiring new relationships that would generate the tender feelings we all hope to possess. All that was accomplished, by opening an envelope, and the photograph held inside it.

 2670 Words