Ilona Cole, Story 48

A Ruby Necklace

The Ruby Necklace

My sister Friedl was only two years older than I, but I realized, looking at her that she seemed much more mature and more sophisticated than I. She already had her own season ticket for the opera and would go with her friend Irmgard to several performances during the season. It was one of those evenings when my sister, all dressed up in a beautiful gown was sitting on the window bench in our bedroom. The gown of beautiful, soft black velvet fitted down the front and neckline straight across. The back was flared at the bottom and the neckline was low and loosely draped. Friedl, with her black hair looked elegant and awesome. She told me that she asked Mama for the necklace she liked very much to wear this evening to the opera. We were discussing the opera that Friedl was going to see tonight. I really loved the music of Rigoletto. It is a beautiful, but sad and tragic opera but the music is captivating and heartrending.

It was a few days later Friedl and Mama were talking about the opera that Friedl so enjoyed. It was always interesting to me to listen to our Mama talk about different operas or ballets. She always made it so interesting and fascinating. I might not be going to see them yet, when I am a few years older I will be able to go too, but I love that type of music already. Our Mama could play this kind of music on our Grand Piano and I loved to sit nearby and listen and daydream.

When Mama entered our bedroom, she had a sweet smile on her face. In her hand she held up a most beautiful long necklace of rubies. She put it on Friedl gave her a kiss and turned her around to have a look at her beautiful daughter and smiled.

Next evening, we were enjoying dinner together having again a lively conversation about classical music and ballets and Mama was telling us about a most beautiful piece of music choreographed by Mikhail Fokine into a most enchanting and mesmerizing ballet

Ilona Cole, Story 45

The Very Beautiful Younger Ilona

The Beautiful Opera Aida

It was September 9th 1944. The opera we would see tonight was the beautiful Aida with elaborate costumes and powerful music by Giuseppe Verdi.

One of our professors at the university I was attending took it upon himself to teach us not only a strong and complete curriculum but also introduced us to the

Ilona Cole, Story 43

A Summer Night Ball

I grew up in Darmstadt/Germany during WWII. Even though a cruel war was commencing, our lives still were structured, filled with new things to learn and to study diligently. My father strived to bring as many activities into our lives as we could handle. My mother tried hard to keep us protected and safe yet let us have free time to do some of the things we love. At the age of 19, my sister Friedl had finished her education and enrolled into a dance studio to learn proper ball room dancing. My sister was two years older than I and she was enrolled first. After each course, each different dance they put on an evening of festivities and a formal ball. First course was the waltz, second course was the slow waltz. The third was my favorite, the tango. Then came the foxtrot, samba and rumba.

It was a surprise when my sister handed me a gold engraved invitation from the dance master to attend the summer ball at the end of the third dance course. I still remember my beautiful gown. It was a symphony! It was long and had a full circle skirt. The color of the silk crepe was a very pale grey with a hue of purple. About 10

Ilona Cole, Story 42

Homecoming After Seven Long Years

August (Ilona’s Father)

It was 1946 after WWII had ended and I lived with my sister Friedl in Darmstadt/ Germany. Our mother just had died of cancer. She was only 46 years old. Our father did not return at the end of the war, and we did not know if he was in a Russian prison camp or died when the Russians took Berlin where he was stationed. My sister Friedl joined the Red Cross so we would receive some information or news about family members who did not return after the war as yet.

It was not until 1949 that the Red Cross office informed my sister of some news, but also told Friedl it might just be a rumor. Prisoners of war from a Russian camp came through Darmstadt and told the Red Cross workers that our father might be in Siberia in a prisoner- of-war camp. The worker at the Red Cross told Friedl that she would notify us when there would be a train with prisoners and officers coming through the Darmstadt Train Station. Could we have hope?

Ilona Cole, Story 41 (and Birthday Wishes)

My Birthday Dinner in Paris

Hotel Napoleon, Paris

It was the year 1992, my retirement and my 65th birthday. Even though my retirement date was June 1st, I was allowed a few days before to leave so we could be in Paris on June 2nd. For the last twenty five years my wish was to have lunch or dinner in Paris with my sweet Heart for my 65th birthday.

We landed in Frankfurt/Germany and Hal, my husband, rented a sporty BMW. We first drove to Darmstadt to visit my sister and her husband and started the next day on our trip to Fontainebleau for a few days and then a week in Paris. We took the toll auto- route  

Ilona Cole, Story 40

This Green State of Washington

Mount Hood

It had been three years since I had come to this country from Germany, and I still had not yet gotten used to the incessant rain. Not really rain, but dark clouds and drizzle. Early summer my Husband Hal suggested we take a drive to warmer and sunnier places. We started out from Seattle driving south and east and our first stop was Reno, Nevada. Not for the gambling, but there was a famous restaurant/ bar that had old beautiful rifles on display. My husband

Ilona Cole, Story 39

The Famous Monk

Visiting the Champagne Region of France

It was a few years after my Hal, my sister Friedl, her husband Georg and I made this wonderful trip together through the Burgundy region of France, we decided we wanted to make another trip with them, but this time to Epernay, France. We had our Airline tickets and had a car reserved and were looking so forward to our vacation.

We arrived at the Frankfurt Airport to a beautiful, sunny and warm day. Friedl, Georg and their younger son Rainald welcomed us right after we went through custom. They were all smiles, so happy to see us and we exchanged some warm hugs. Hal picked up our car and we all went to Darmstadt first to spend the afternoon together and have a good night