Story of Love

Many years ago, I asked my grandmother how she met my grandfather. The way she told it, theirs was a fairytale romance. Gert was 16 and Lenny was 20. From across the crowded Lower East Side dance hall, their eyes locked and they were head over heels in love. Six weeks later they married and, though he died in his fifties and she later remarried, Lenny remained the love of Gert’s life until her death at 96.

Before starting her Familial letter, my mother worried that recalling memories of people who are no longer alive would be too sad and she didn’t know if she could do it. I assured her we would go where she wanted to go. 

When prompted about how she and my father became a couple, it was like my mother was 17 again. With a youthful spirit, she took me along from their initial meeting (“I hope he’s not my head counselor!”) to their first date (“I had no idea it was a date. I truly wanted to see his photos of Israel!) to their long distance relationship (“He was a romantic and wrote so many letters.”). My parents’ love may not have been at first sight, but like my grandparents, their love story was extraordinary.

Has my mother cried on our calls? We both have. But the tears and the smiles have been held in love.

It can be hard getting started. Familial is here to help. We offer a comprehensive service for capturing your family’s stories and wisdom. If you’re interested in learning more, visit Familial and contact us at aviva@familial.net or by phone at 415.336.3125.