brought out a very large box and asked us to take a guess about what was in it. It remind- ed me of something Herman pulled on me on another anniversary. We were on a cruise ship and he presented me with a large, beautifully decorated box that contained a tiny, decorative piece of porcelain engraved with the words, “I love you.” I will always cherish that gift. That little porcelain in the big box is about 1 inch tall. This box contained a beautiful pocketbook from Louis Vuitton with a matching wallet. It was so simple, but classic looking and love- ly. Herman bought it a few weeks ago after I admired a similar wallet of Wendy’s. He wanted to give it to me then but Wendy persuaded him to wait until the celebration. Herman doesn’t enjoy shopping and doesn’t enjoy buying me gifts ever since he gave me a diamond watch when Frank was born and I took it back. I was young and didn’t realize how special that watch was and what it meant for him to give it to me. I could only think that with all the chores and washing and taking care of a baby, where would I wear it? Now Wendy brings out a large shopping bag. She has recently begun to make quilts. The homemade quilt she pulled from the bag was the most exciting thing imaginable. First it is a large, square quilt with a framing pattern of decorative red bars. Within the spaces created by the bars are photographs printed on cloth. Those photographs are a history of my life and Herman’s together. It is amazing. Everyone who sees it flips out. An instant family heir- loom. Her workmanship is so beautiful that it belongs in a museum. And that wasn’t all. A number of years ago I was writing Herman’s name on a piece of paper and noticed the two syllables – togeth- er they spelled Herman but separated they spelled Her Man. We have had a lot of fun with that discovery over the years. Our grand- son, Jason, suggested that they make T-shirts with a picture of Herman and me on the front and Her Man on the back. So that’s what they did and everyone got a Her Man T-shirt. There is a Yiddish word, Haimish, that means like home. Everyone was so comfortable, all the family crowded around, all so affection- ate. It was a beautiful, successful evening
Sunday the kids all had brunch together at a long rectangular table. The grownups ate separately. Then we all went to the cabana for a while and either read, played Banana Grams, or went down to the beach. Around three o’clock Herman and I went to pack and check out. Our granddaugh- ter, Abigail, was with her friends, playing her guitar and singing. We went to see her and sat outside in a new section of a mall in Pompa- no Beach. It was such a pleasure we stayed for about two hours. You live a lifetime for such beautiful moments. Except for Frank being sick, it was wonderful.
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