Ilona Cole, Guest Author, Story 157

One Good Thing Leads to Another After arriving in the United States in 1954 and getting acquainted with some of my Hal’s friends, like Fred and Marylou, two dear friends since high school, I was pleasantly surprised to get to meet some more. Fred was one of my Hal’s best friends and buddy’s and he …

Ilona Cole, Guest Author, Story 156

A Party for Hal and Ilona This was the year 1954 and a big “going away” party was planned by my friends. I was leaving my home in Germany as soon as my visa and entry permit would be granted. My Hal had to leave already, which was a law, after marrying a German National. …

Ilona Cole, Guest Author, Story 155

November 14th A Very Special Day Frankfurt/Germany November 14th,1953 was the happiest day of my life. But not for long, after a ten-day honeymoon I had to say goodbye again to my beloved Hal, my new husband. His time in the Armed Forces was up and he was being shipped out from Bremer Haven, going …

Ilona Cole, Guest Author, Story 154

One of Those Many Callouts It was the year 1963 and my husband, Hal, working for AT&T was transferred from Seattle, Washington to a brand-new facility, a Radio Communications center built in North Bend, at the base of the Cascade Mountains. The original crew of six technicians were a close-knit group and the callouts for …

Ilona Cole, Guest Author, Story 153

The Little Apple Tree After my husband, Hal and I (Ilona) retired, we decided to leave the city life behind and move to a quieter place with less rain to the eastside of the Cascade Mountain Range to a small town by a beautiful lake called Chelan. After a long search and process, we found …

Ilona Cole, Guest Author, Story 151

Diorissimo Perfume… “Shocking” Perfume by Schiaparelli Two beautiful perfumes, two beautiful fragrances, I used in my younger years at different times. One was no longer available, when I came to the United States. “Shocking” by Elsa Schiaparelli, the bottle, French Art Deco, inspired by an hourglass, the shape of a female torso or dressmaker dummy, …

Ilona Cole, Guest Author, Story 150

A Tragic Opera by Puccini, “Madame Butterfly” It was opera season in Seattle and my dearest friend and niece Marcie, and I looked so forward to seeing Madame Butterfly, Puccini’s opera, with the most beautiful aria sung by Cio Cio San, a soprano, the Butterfly. The message of the tragic opera premiered February 1904 at …

Ilona Cole, Guest Author, Story 149

André Rieu Summer Concert in Seattle Our dearest friends, Karin and Karl, joined my husband, Hal and me, Ilona, in this never-to-forget concert in Seattle with the well-known violinist André Rieu and his amazing orchestra. We got together for a nice supper in our apartment in Bellevue first. I set a festive and inviting table …

Ilona Cole, Guest Author, Story 148

My Realization It was February 14th, 1954, Frankfurt/Germany. I, Ilona, had gotten married to a wonderful American gentleman, Halvor Le Grand Cole on November 14th, 1953. My new husband, Hal, had served his three years and according to a law of the Armed Forces, marrying a German national, the soldier then must leave Germany. Hal’s …