Ilona Cole, Story 70

A Christmas Wish Fulfilled

The Lufthansa plane was descending over the countryside north of Frankfurt/Germany and soon we will arrive to be greeted by my sister Friedl and her husband Georg. My husband Hal and I will look forward to spending another Christmas in Germany. After we received our luggage and passed the customs check we finally got to hug my sister and my brother-in-law. We left the Rhine-Main airport in Frankfurt and drove to Darmstadt, Friedl

Ilona Cole, Story 62

My Precious and Beautiful Birthday Present

It was June 2nd, 2021, my birthday. I am 94 years old. Before I write this short story, I should tell a little how this phenomenon occurred. I never thought I would after so many years have this pleasure of owning such a beautiful and precious gift.

I started writing short stories and one of the stories, or actually two stories were of a most beautiful Geisha doll. Jessika, my confidant, my care giver, my most treasured friend was here and joined in the conversation. We were talking about a trip we had taken to Seattle to hear the Messiah. We, my husband Hal and I stayed at the Olympic Hotel, and we had a chance to go to the Jewelry store in the lobby of the hotel, always closed, when we came in the evening for dinners. Today we arrived for lunch. We made an awesome purchase, as I was telling it in my short story. Several years after, we gifted it to a good friend, also a war bride, as we were called then to make her happy and I believe with all my heart, that it worked. That was the end of the subject of conversation. Many months passed and it was my birthday.

We had a few of our friends in my apartment celebrating with cake and champagne and my beloved Jessika was here too. She went into the bedroom and closed the door, so she would have privacy and prepared to present me with my birthday gift. I could never have imagined what my gift would be, but Jessika came out of the bedroom with one of her beautiful smiles and had the most awesome and precious Geisha doll in both hands. I had the feeling of joy, of gratefulness, the overwhelming feeling of giving Jessika a big hug and I had to hold back tears, tears of happiness and joy, not necessarily toward this awesome gift, but toward Jessika. For a young lady to know what would make an old lady so happy in her heart.

This gorgeous Geisha doll stands on a black platform, has beautiful jewels in her hair, even a lovely comb of jade. Her face is beautiful, serene and precious. Her garment is of red and gold silk brocade, and she is holding a charming fan in her hand. Such a lovely gift, such a lovely Geisha doll and such a lovely Jessika.

It was a birthday that I shall never forget nor the kindness and love of my dearest Jessika.