1941
Surpise! number 7 arrives
March 27, 1941, Charles Nathan is born. He was named for Adolph's father, Nachman who died this year from natural causes or because of the brutal conditions existing in Mielnitza caused by the German occupation.
Lena's physical and emotional energies, drained from ten stressful years of the Great Depression, collapsed with her seventh pregnancy. Added to this was her embarrassment (contrary to today's lifestyle) over the news that her oldest child, Sidney, who would turn 25 in April, was engaged to be married in June. The combination of these circumstances was probably the cause of our new baby brother arriving two months early. Fortunately, he was healthy and fully developed. It would be a year or more before Lena was able to care for him, Frankie, and me.
At the time, I was 9 years old, in the third grade and Frankie 11 1/2, a fifth grader. We remember rocking or holding Chuckie during our lunch hours from elementary school that year. One time I arrived back to school late and wrote an excuse to my teacher, signing Lena's name. My teacher asked why I had written the note instead of my mother. I was taken back, as I hadn't realized she would recognize my handwriting. I thought it looked pretty grown up, as I probably felt, having taken on motherly responsibilities at that age.
Chuck was the best thing that could have happened to my parents, especially in their advancing years. Lena always said he kept them young, yet she did not live long enough to know of his exceptional talents and achievements, which, for my mother, would have been her ultimate reward as a parent. Poor health, though, did not deter Lena from plans she had for Charles. As he grew up Lena kept a close watch over him and his choice of friends. She interferred when Charles wanted to leave school (Toledo University) to sell shoes, as some of his friends were doing. Instead Lena searched the Jewish community for sources to provide money for Chuck's tuition. She died March 1965, just two months before Chuck graduated, but knowing that her job was almost finished.
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