Where would I be now? It was a mild spring afternoon at Staadpark in Vienna as I rubbed my hands, which are neatly wrapped in new white gloves. The gloves felt very soft. My governess would certainly scold me If I touched any mud. A small orchestra on the podium is playing popular and melodious waltz music. Soon we will meet grandmother and enjoy tea with Sacha Torte at Demlers.
I am a very excited and happy three year old. Why are there so many people huddled in groups whispering? It is 1938. Late that night there is a loud knock at our door. A Nazi officer in black polished boots speaks rapidly to my father. The officer says in appreciation for my father’s help as his attorney, he is here to warn us that Hitler will arrive in two days and we must leave immediately. We are Jewish Where will we go? How can my parents leave grandparents, sisters and brothers? We board the last train out of Vienna to Switzerland. In beautiful Lucerne we discover that my father owned an apartment building which he now sells for much needed cash Again we board a train which is heading for Paris in search of visas for far away countries. Father was born in Romania and the quota to the United States is closed and so he must go to Cuba. Mother and I are born in Vienna and have a cousin in New York who will sponsor us.
We board the SS Manhattan and sail on a very bumpy sea. I am lonely and invent an imaginary friend who is very small and plays with me at night. Father was the European attorney for the Ziegfield Follies and has left his fees in Chase Manhattan Bank in New York City. We live in a small room on Riverside Drive In Kindergarten I quickly learn English and have to find my way home after our air raid drills. A year later,Father finally gets his visa to the United States and enrolls in Columbia University to become a CPA. A job is offered in Minneapolis, Minnesota and we finally settle down. It is very cold and the truck dumps coal into our shoot in order to heat the house. What great fun it is to build snowman in the yard but many people fall and break a leg. I would be sick often with ear infections and mother would regale me with stories of life in Vienna, hiking in the Alps, fashion shopping in Paris and going to lavish parties and Opera balls. Polio spreads in the fall mosquito season and I am not allowed to go out to the movies. But we were frightened and have lost contact with our families in Vienna. My parents now longer laugh and dance. They have few friends.
Mother wants to live in a warmer climate so again we move. We are now in Los Angeles, California. Today I am very excited. It is my first boy/girl party. Mother has shopped and bought me a pink organza ruffled dress. We wrap my hair in small rags so that I will have lots of curls in the morning. Finally I am ready and eager to go to the party. Oh no, to my horror all the girls are wearing skirts and blouses and have their hair in pony tails. Mother remembered Vienna where events were very formal I cry myself to sleep and vow never to wear pink again. Time passes and I graduate UCLA and get married. Now my children play in the park but without white gloves.
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