16-May-99 Dad and Hanna

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My sister Hanna and her husband had invited my father up to their apartment in Worcester in honor of his upcoming 85th birthday, and asked us over too. Hanna and Ira are orthodox and won't eat in our house; though we consider our kitchen kosher, they're not sure that it is up to their standards of kashruth. It was a very pleasant visit. There were no blow-ups, which actually is no longer a surprise. Ten years ago it was impossible to get Hanna and my father together without a bitter argument breaking out, but they are both substantially more tolerant than they used to be. I haven't quite gotten used to the new calm and am always a little surprised.

Hanna gave me a magazine rack I had made in high school shop to bring back for Charley. I tend to talk enough about sewing and cooking that I needed to mention this -- I loved welding, working with a metal lathe, and especially wrought iron work when I was in high school. It was great to take a piece of red-orange hot iron out of the forge, put it on the anvil, and pound the living daylights out of it. I'm glad to have that magazine rack back to see that.

In lieu of writing more, here are a couple of pictures from that visit.

Hanna and her husband Ira. Married orthodox women generally keep their hair covered (with a wig if not a kerchief).

Hanna, my dad, Ira, me, Arlene. Photo was taken by Ira's son.

Go, Photoshop! Go, Unsharp Mask! Go, Olympus camera!
Go, Newtonville Camera same day developing!