Gratitude

 I feel very grateful for the presence of my daughter, Eva in my life; especially now when I am almost 97 years old and incapacitated.

I feel grateful for Eva because she is taking care of me in my old age.  I feel that she is taking care of me with the same devotion as I took care of her in her infancy.  Total devotion.  For example, she has lived alone at home throughout the whole pandemic to protect me from getting sick. She has visited me in Davis several times a month, driving from Sauselito each time. She has taken me for drives in the countryside and to Winters. She has frequently cooked good meals for us. She always buoys me up with her Buddhist programs on the internet, and her Buddhist approach to life.  I am always in a good mood when she is here, and I miss her when she is not here. 

Eva will be 60 years old next April. She is relatively small and shapely. She has long, reddish-brown hair. She is always upbeat, adventuresome, creative. She really loves everybody; as we loved her ever since she was born.

When she was two years old, we lived in a little house on Pole Line Road. One day I noticed that she had disappeared. I was very upset. In a few moments, she reappeared accompanied by a neighbor, her former Sunday school teacher, who said she recognized her, roaming around. “Budgie,” as we called her was quite calm and happy.  I was greatly relieved. I understood that she was a fearless explorer at the age of two.

Another aspect of her personality present at that age was shown through a very different incident. Andrzej and I were laying on our double bed, watching TV. The news report showed Kristalnacht; Nazi’s destroying Jewish shops in a very aggressive way. Andrzej, whose whole family died in Auschwitz became enraged. He was yelling at me, as if it were all my fault.  I was crying. Little Budgie went into her bedroom and brought me a box of Kleenex. This was the beginning of her career as a Buddhist. 

She helps me avoid depression and hopelessness. When she is with me I feel happy and grateful. 

I would like to tell her “THANK YOU!” for taking such good care of me.