Epilogue

When I began my book, I asked the following questions:

1. Does love have dimensions that can be weighed or measured?
2. Does wisdom have a face that can be recognized upon meeting it?
3. Does truth have a place where it can be found?

My answer is that they are all found in the shared life of two or more souls.

I wrote these words when I was seventy-eight years young. I stated at that time that I have not stopped evolving. It is still true at this time, as I am moving with Father Time.

Since I first wrote these words, I have become four years younger. On July 4, 2003, I will be eighty-three years young. According to Jewish tradition, I will then be eligible to celebrate my second Bar Mitzvah or confirmation, again taking an oath of faith in the Creator and serving the needs of my community and all of humanity.

I once wrote a poem that describes a person who has attained my present age. But does it describe me, my persona? You be the judge.

Behold, O—Old man!
Your arched back of today,
your wobbly feet
and trembling hands,
your troubles of years weigh you down;
yet, not so many years back,
you were but a babe, a suckling
in someone’s arms.
What has happened to you, O—Old man?
With your future now behind you?
Where is your hope?
Your hoary head many tales could tell
of love, of dreams,
of hopes and purposes.
Yet, O—Old man, you are blessed,
for not every youth has a chance of becoming a man—Old like you.

I became chronologically old, but I am young! I have outlived many of my youthful comrades in arms in World War II. I outlived my son. Now I ask myself, what have I accomplished during the years since this book was written?

I realized that there were before me two choices. The first was to keep on mourning the loss of my wife, Rita, and my son, Jeremey, by withdrawing into hollow pit of emptiness, where loneliness and decay would have been the result.

The second was that I could put forth my spirit and move forward by accepting the challenges that were before me regardless of their circumstances, yielding rewards or failures. Rewards or failures create experiences. To experience is a sign of living. I chose the path that put my spirit forward.

All of us human beings experience periods of darkness and moments of light during our journey through time. We all must make changes while making the journey. Changes are hard to accept, but every one of us needs to be aware as we go along to know when changes are necessary. Otherwise, we would then be left behind to fossilize in a past that is soon forgotten.

Choosing to go forward, I found companionship with my sister-in-law, Esther. My daughter, Sue, and Esther were close to each other as aunt and niece. Included in this group was Esther’s daughter, Ruth, who also delighted in our extended family relationship. Before she passed away, Esther helped me on the computer to compile a book for future publication.

I am now fortunate to have found Ellie, with whom I am presently sharing my life. My daughter Sue reminded me that I should include her in my story, as she considers Ellie to be good for me. So do I! Ellie is a no-nonsense lady who is straightforward and means what she says. She is devoted to her family and friends. Now included in her devotion is my grandson, Jonah, and my daughter Sue and her husband Yaniv.

Included in my great joys at this time of my life is my grandson, Jonah, who is presently seven years of age. I am blessed to share in his education and watch his maturation.

I want to review just how far I have come in my journey. I was born July 4, 1920, in Hungary. In November 1934, my family and I became the first Jews to be imprisoned for “just being Jewish.” I am the last male survivor of this “first” family.

In December 1939, the United States government granted us an entry visa through the quota system. We arrived here in January 1940. After the attack at Pearl Harbor, I volunteered to join the army. On November 27, 1942, I became a U.S. citizen. My discharge from the service came in September 1945.

Between 1945 and 1948, I finished my education. In 1948 I published my first book, The Book of Jade. This, too, was based on my observations of life.

On, March 27, 1949, I married Rita Hiller, and we shared our lives until she died in March 1995. Our family grew with the birth of our daughter, Sue, who was born on June 9, 1951, and our son, Jeremey, who was born on August 29, 1952, and who died March 9, 1988. Rita and I also raised two foster sons who changed their last name to mine and started their own families with it. Jonah, my grandson, was born November 1, 1995.

I have belonged to various organizations and have been active in many charities, contributing especially to projects that promote education for the young and health care for the elderly.

In May 1996, I retired from active practice. However, I am presently enjoying being able to give assistance to a few in need, to both people and animals. I am continuing my writing and enjoying a full and useful life.

My advice to those of you who fear loneliness and are afraid to move on with your lives is that the great unknown is none other than yourself. That which you fear most is yourself. You are never alone. If you move, you live. Life speaks to all of us. Move, act, and you will live.

We who live must pay a price for our existence. Unify your awareness with your inner reality, as this union is the very combination that expresses your common presence in the process of ordinary day-to-day life.

Remember that by your own aspirations you can become either strong and fearless of your future or you may become as a lamb, easily slaughtered. Choose the right disposition or attitude you want to live by.

As your time permits, turn your attention inward so that you may come to know to the capacity the Supreme Architect gave you. You may surprise yourself with your talents and abilities. As a mature and free adult, you have full power and strength to recall that you once were weak and without these abilities. Therefore, as a free person, forget not those who are enslaved within themselves or by others, or those who are imprisoned by ignorance. Live a good and wholesome life while you can. Comprehend that as a tree after it has reached its season falls to the ground and dies, as does a conceited or fearful one fails if he ignores the opportunities that life upholds and offers.

Set your spirit free to rise to its potential. We do not know when our time is coming to an end. Live now! This is your time to contribute and enjoy the fruits of your contributions.

I have triumphed over many adversities and plan to fulfill all that life asks me to perform each and every day. I close with a quote from my recent book, Heal Yourself, which I hope will be an inspiration to you.

The spirit, the person,
is something incomplete.
It imparts motion to the body and mind
by refashioning the human constitution.
It belongs to the realm of quality,
not quantity.
It is the inner experience
felt in sickness as well as health,
in sorrow as well as joy.
It is the current of life
that surges continually.
It is the light that is found
in the heart
and visibly seen in the eye.
The person is the reality
linked to God
and to each and every human being,
asserting its presence, its freedom,
by endowing its love to the one
who is ready to accept it.

I have. So should you.

~ End of Greenhorn ~