Today is Sunday, June 1st and I am planning a little get together with food and drink for a wonderful group of friends, right here at an Apartment Complex, called Woodland at Forbes Lake in Kirkland where I came to live, after I lost my dear husband, Hal eight years ago. This little group of wonderful individuals has been getting together evenings to visit, converse about all kinds of subjects, even politics. We tell about daily happenings, funny or sad, have happy or serious conversations. Over the eight years I have resided here, we have lost some of our dear friends, we still miss them.
Tonight I baked some mini pizzas, some Spanakopitas, a fruit salad with different berries and my dear friend, Bonnie, brought a green salad. Another dear friend, Jeanette, brought a delicious chocolate cake. We had different things to drink and I also made coffee and tea. We were ten individual, congenial men and women and have become great friends. After coffee and this yummy birthday cake came the time to pay attention to the table, set up with birthday cards and gifts. I received beautiful cards, some with a generous gift, two bottles of wine and a box of the most beautiful, little pink note cards with gold Butterflies attached. Beautiful kitchen towels, dark chocolate.
Then there were two packages left. Brett, one of our little family, came and joined me to help opening the packages. A cute little bag held two sculpted, bears. A brown bear and a black bear. Had I mentioned: “I love bears” everyone around the table knows. Next, was a pink tissue wrapped big roll with ribbon on both ends. At my advanced age, one would think of comfort, a cushion either for neck or back. As Brett was removing the ribbons, I started to pull the gift out. It was not a cushion, No! It was a beautiful, soft, cuddly bear!
Brett is a gentleman and a good observer, who heard me say, I love bears, looking in a book of wild life in Alaska. This little cuddly bear will fit perfectly with the other two bears, I had for many years. This very special little softy, I named: “Schnucky” in German it means “Darling”.
Yes, it even happens to me, where my days mostly seem very uneventful. After I got up, had taken care of all my duties and was ready to allow myself a good cup of coffee, I opened my computer to check if I might have received a comment to my Valentines short story on Marcie’s website. To my surprise, my mood went from unbelievable, to happy to cloud nine!
I found a comment, not to my story, but a name and a text to me.
“Teri Herrera” Feb 17, 2025
“ILONA!! I have finallly found you! I have tried to find you for a number of years, but always came to a dead end.”
Oh, what a miracle, what a gift! I have to see how I can contact that sweet little lady now. Her comment had no current phone and address included.
Many years ago Teri lived in one of Bellevue, Cougar Hills condo’s and so did I with my husband Hal. She was not just a neighbor, but also a Realtor and when my Hal and I retired and wanted to move to Lake Chelan, she was willing to sell our condo for us and she did a great job for us. I had become, not just a neighbor with Teri, I also became friends with this lovely lady.
After six years we came back to Bellevue, but Teri had moved away and we lost touch. Life took over, life moved on. In the meantime my life had changed dramatically, I lost my beloved Hal to a devastating long illness and moved into a small apartment here in Kirkland. For me, there was so much sadness, feeling of loss and being disheartened, living now by myself.
An offer to write short stories, weekly, for my dearest friend and wonderful niece’s website Marcie gave me a new outlook on life. Writing short stories, I loved it and it gave Teri an opportunity to find me. A beautiful gift!
Today, is the day we will meet, Teri is coming here to my apartment to visit, only a 23 minute drive from home in Redmond, almost neighbors again.
When we parted, Teri had a little precious daughter, she is now 28 years old and recently gotten married. She is Mekena and I do hope to get to see her very soon too. I hope for a repeat of today, I was so very happy.
Delighted and ecstatic over this extraordinary chance, at my age, to reunite and see my little friend, Teri and her “baby daughter Mekena” again.
This does not always turn out that well. How lucky and fortunate am I.
An Up to Date Little Tale on The Rescue Dog “Momo”– Now Three Years Old
Three years ago, I wrote a short story about a very ill puppy, that was near death several times, after Jessika, a very dear friend of mine taken a long trip to rescue this poor little baby and brought it home.
That lady is my caretaker and confidant and loving friend, Jessika. She flew a long distance to rescue this little very ill puppy, not sure, that he could survive just the flight. It was a very stressful flight when they finally arrived at Sea-Tac airport in Seattle, Washington.
With all the care and love that Jessika gave to this little, very sick puppy he not only survived, he flourished and grew into a playful, happy and beautiful dog with a cute face and fur of red/brown curls. Jessika’s joy and success story.
I am always delighted when Jessika can bring little Momo with her to my home. I believe that he also enjoys visiting me. During her visit here, if we have a bite to eat or have lunch, Momo will lay down under my chair.
I find myself so very privileged to have witnessed this touching and beautiful story and realized, again in my long life of 98 years, what caring, love and endurance is capable of accomplishing. Jessika, a single lady, a home care nurse was determined, that this puppy can live, will live, if she has anything to do with it. She gave all she had, the monetary means, the care in making his food, hospital visits, long days and worry some nights and lots of prayers and love.
This is such a powerful story, telling what we as humans are capable of accomplishing, if we use all the positive and good things we have within ourselves, and use them, when life asks for it.
And what better times are there, to concentrate using these precious gifts, than right now.
Blessings to Jessika and Momo!
Note:
Oh my goodness! How cute is that little pup?! I love how much joy and support Jessika has given Ilona over the years, and Momo now adds to the equation too! Enjoy this little tale of the rescue and these adorable pictures from Ilona. Marcie
Another Outing with our Professor Stern, Food for Mind and Soul
Catherine the Great
Friday morning, as we entered our classroom, here was our beloved Professor, Dr. Stern, big greeting and big smile. As we all got situated by our Pults (desks), he informed us that he has an evening planned for Saturday. Our tickets and paperwork were in an envelope right on our desks. “No cheating please”, said Dr. Stern, “we will have our lecture first and then look”.
This day was the continuation of our lessons about literature, art, and the cultural differences of our neighbor country Mother Russia in the 18th century. The main character in this study was Catherine The Great, Empress of Russia. Her momentous influence on expanding Russia’s borders well into Central Europe. She was Sophie Friederike Auguste von Anhalt-Zerbst, born May 2nd 1729 in Stettin, then part of the Prussian Empire, now it is Poland.
She was the daughter of a German Prince. She became Catherine II, Empress of Russia and she reigned for over 30 years. She was the Empress, who invited German citicens to come to Russia and settle the land along the River Volga and in Siberia.
These German settlers, called Volga Germans dealt with harsh and stressful lives. We had learned in previous lectures, how these Germans came to be in a settlement in southeastern Russia. We learned all about their desperation, wanting to return to their homeland. I remember hearing that beautiful song, very sad and it touched our hearts, called “Das Wolga Lied” the Volga Song, the music by Franz Lehàr composer, born in Hungary now it is Slovakia. The music is touching and beautiful, I always cry.
Das Wolga Lied:
Hast Du dort oben vergessen auch mich,
es sehnt doch mein Herz nach Liebe sich.
Du hast im Himmel viel Englein bei Dir,
schick doch Einen davon auch zu mir.
My translation of the Volga song
Have you in Heaven foresaken me.
My heart yearns so much for love from thee.
You have in Heaven many angels around thee,
Please send just one down here to me.
The lecture ended and so did the complete history about Catherine The Great, Empress of Russia. During Hitler’s reign (and terror) they did not have the chance to return, they were forgotten, but after WWII the democratic government of Germany brought them back to their beloved home land.
Now, we had permission to open our envelopes.
Tickets to the Opera!
“Der Zarewitch” The Tzarevich, an operetta, music by Franz Lehàr and libretto by Heinz Reichert and Bela Jenbach, based on the story of Alexei, son of a Russian Tzar, Peter The Great, composed in 1927.
Saturday evening arrived and the curtain went up and for me it was a mesmerizing performance, but I came to hear this heart wrenching song. The music throughout was beautiful and touching! The words unforgettable. “The Volga Song” by a great composer, Franz Lehàr another masterpiece!
We all ended up at the beautiful Rath Haus Cellers in mid town by the castle for a supper, a glass of wine and a discussion session.
What was funny was, we all noticed as we sat around a big round table, that everyone still had tears from crying throughout the song.
It was the beginning of a beautiful summer in 1938. Our Mrs. Kramer is taking a week’s vacation to get together with her two sisters. The older sister, Maria and the younger one, Marga. Both live quite a distance from here. She will drive her beautiful car, pick up her sister Marga in Baden Baden, in the Black Forest and drive all the way down to the (Bodensee, German) Lake Constance, English. Her sister Maria has a Pansion (a B and B) in Constance with a charming Café.
When my sister Friedl and I, Ilona heard this, we were very sad, we will miss our Mrs. Kramer very much… a whole week?
At the dinner table that evening Mrs. Kramer told us about the trip and also told us, after looking at our sad faces, that she received our parent’s permission for us to come along. Oh, there was so much joy around the table! We will start our journey this Friday morning to the Black Forest, to pick up the sister, Marga. After, we will be on our way to Constance with one night of rest. We should get to Maria’s by Saturday afternoon. Of course, it was too late for lunch and too early for dinner, but we were hungry. But by the time all the greetings and introductions were done and our suitcases were delivered to our rooms, it was time to freshen up and get dressed for dinner.
We entered a beautiful dining room, lighted candles on all the tables and Maria leading us to our table, set for five. She was by the entry of the dining room with a beautiful smile and menu for the guests coming in. She will join us a little later. Since Maria knew, that we must be hungry after our long journey, she arranged with the chef something for now for us to pick on, until we have ordered our dinner. Everything looked good on the menu, we could not decide.
Our Mrs. Kramer offered to order for us all? We were happy about that and agreed.
A big platter with some fine, smoked seafood, beautiful, arrived at our table, with salmon, big shrimp, bueckling (smoked trout), a delicious sauce made with cream, apple, grated, and little horseradish, black bread with butter, and a bottle of Domain & Chandon. Friedl and I were allowed a little in the glass and our waiter filled ours up with soda. Just for the toast. This looked and also tasted yummy. By now, Maria had traded places with a young lady by the entry and joined us. It was a congenial group, with conversation, laughter and love. So happy to be together.
Maria started the conversation about keeping us busy during our week here. She had gotten tickets (five) for a summer concert tomorrow at the big beautiful meadow by Lake Constance. The Guest Conductor is Victor Alberto de Sabata, conducting Wagner’s overtures from Lohengren, Wallcure and Tannhauser. All kinds of pleasurable noises around our table. Friedl and I loved that kind of music.
Another day will be filled with a boat ride on Lake Constance to the island of Mainau, to see and admire all the most beautiful flowers blooming there, this island is known for. Lake Constance is an awesome, breathtaking lake, it is 40 miles long and 9 miles wide, making it the largest lake in the German speaking world. As a young man my father enjoyed vacations there sailing on that beautiful lake.
Our Mrs. Kramer would like to have one day for shopping, especially for Friedl and for me, she had a beautiful smile on her face, looking at us.
Two waiters brought our food, it looked and smelled great. Big plates, beautifully arranged food, slices of beef tenderloin roast, a dark shiny sauce, and arranged in a circle a melange of vegetables in a butter sauce and potatoes “Anna.” So beautiful to look at.
I have to admit, it tasted yummy, but like always it was too much for me. But our Mrs. Kramer would honor that, since someone else dished it up for me. The dinner was memorable and delicious! All, including Ilona enjoyed. The three ladies ordered coffee and we awaited the dessert. The desserts were rather simple, but the presentation! On a beautiful, large plate, in the center a basket made of “melt in your mouth” crust filled with large, ripe raspberries, sprinkled with cognac and out of gold leaf a cut, round doily to cover the berries. Lovely and a lot of work, not to mention, expensive. We were staring at it, amazed but had nothing to utter. It tasted yummy, the doily was eatable.
Maria revealed that she has the week off and loves to join us. It was today a perfect day. As we said our “Good night” we were looking forward already to tomorrow.
The week was full of adventure and it was awesome to explore this little, most beautiful corner of the world. The time went fast, our Mrs. Kramer, Friedl and I enjoyed our shopping trip in the city. We loved our gorgeous summer dresses, white cotton batiste with a little light blue embroidery on the sleeves and around the hem, were fitting us nicely. And, of course, hats! They were white straw hats, wide brims and looked beautiful. And as I had promised, I will wear mine into our home, when we arrive next Saturday. More, I can not promise.
Today is the day we, Marcie and I, are getting together. We both have been sick with the flu and had to postpone. It was a beautiful afternoon with my sweet Marcie, my dearest friend, my niece.
She also is an author, editor, a professor at Green River College, and the owner of a website I have been writing short stories for about four years now as a guest writer.
She was my Savior during my most difficult time with depression, sadness, and trying times of stress after my beloved husband Hal died, my love and my life of 64 years. Marcie offered me this great job of writing short stories to get me occupied and busy with something I loved.
Marcie is coming from Vashon Island on the ferry and then on I-405 to Kirkland where I now live. She wanted to bring our lunch, and after she arrived with a big box with food, she wanted to prepare it. We had a glass of Champagne while she was busy in the kitchen.
The plates arrived by our table and they were beautiful!
Big dinner plates, the beauty of them to behold, like a painting: Big, beautiful shrimp, little, thin French green beans with delectable cream on them, big ripe raspberries, a little wedge of spiced Tomato aspic, very tasty, a slice of tender smoked and peppered salmon.
In the center of the plate, a piece of baguette with butter, paté, a slice of tasty cheese with little bits of black truffle and heated, to melt just a little.
“In heaven, just looking at it” and a glass of bubbles to toast what we about to eat. Delicious!
We had a wonderful conversation, talking about family and the children and, of course, the second book of my stories which just came out. Marcie loved this book that Julie and Luc, our dear friends, just had finished.
All the short stories, 79 of them with a lot of photos, were in our first book and the second book now, has about 102 stories in it with a lot of photos.
Julie worked very hard on both books and they are beautiful. Another great drawing by Carlos, a young artist, for the hardback book cover.
Marcie was excited about her copy, and after we had finished our excellent lunch, we sat in the living room for our coffee and French macaron’s, Marcie finally could hold her book to look through it.
What a lovely afternoon, a lovely day with a precious, lovely friend, Marcie.
What more could I possibly want? I was floating in happiness still when Marcie had to leave, still during the evening when I was by myself, and floating still with a smile on my face at bed time.
This “once in a great while happiness” will last me for quite a while.
Thank you, my sweet Marcie!
Note from Marcie: This picture is from a few years back when Ilona and I went to see Madame Butterfly at the Seattle Opera–so many special memories together.
Comment from Marcie:
I am so very touched by this lovely story from Ilona. Like all of her friends and family, I love this amazing woman so much, and she had such a big impact on my life and my identity over the past 35+ years that she has been a part of my life.
I want to thank her for all of the friendship, love, art and beauty, good food and conversation –and stories that she has gifted me over the years. Marcie
Portland had a wonderful wine shop, I frequented when I was looking for a very special bottle of wine, for a gift or a dinner. I often, if I was the only one in the store, would have an informative conversation with Mr. Harris, the owner. On one occasion I had something very rare and special in mind, and of course Mr. Harris had it. It was a bottle of that most beautiful of all French red wines, a Romanée Conti. For me it was an informative lecture on its origin, history and this wine production.
Then Mr. Harris told me that he loves to share his knowledge of many wines, that he gives classes in the evenings on all different wines to gentlemen only. That the next course of classes will start May first. I thought right away of purchasing the first class and adding it to this fine bottle of wine for Valentine day for my sweetheart next week. It sounded perfect, since Mr. Harris started with the French wine from the Cote de Nuits, the French section of Burgundy, the area where they grow the beautiful grapes for the Romanée Conti Estate. This bottle, which was going home with me stated:
Appellation Romanee-Conti Controlee, Cote-D’Or France 1974.
At auction in 2024 the most expensive bottle in the world was the Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits, France.
This wine can demand these prices due to the factor of very high quality, reputation and exclusivity.
I left Mr. Harris a very happy lady. Such treasure for this special day next week. It will be fun making out a beautiful menu and going shopping for a great dinner.
Hal completed all the classes and after each subject conclusion, they would all go to dinner in a great place for a 7course dinner with all the appropriate wines for each course. Gentlemen only and formal attire.
My Hal really enjoyed the wine, knowing this beautiful drop, was a wonderful surprise to my sweetheart. The courses were a joy for Hal, he wanted to learn a lot about all wines. On the evenings of the classes, he would, that day, go to his Vancouver office, not to be late.
This year’s Valentine was a tremendous success. The center of course was the bottle of the wine. This wine asked for the best cut of meat, a tenderloin, done in clarified butter all the way around and finished in the oven, medium. I made a wonderful sauce from the stock in the pan by deglacing the pan with a fine Cognac and a little cream. We had white asparagus on the side and Bagette with saltfree butter. Did not want too many flavours on the side, to really enjoy the meat with this delectable sauce. Since it says that red wine goes good with dark chocolate, I decided to bake a dark chocolate Gateau, and served it fresh from the oven still warm, and poured another glass of this special, grand wine with it. YUM.
This was Christmas 2024, the 7th Christmas for me without my beloved husband Hal. It is not getting easier, it is getting more sad and harder every year. This year I planned to have a nice evening with my dear, sweet Jessika, not just a friend, she takes good care of me all year long. I was going to order a wonderful dinner for us from Lynn’s Bistro here in Kirkland. A first class establishment, creating delectable food. We also will have our favorite wine and maybe a brown butter pear tart with our coffee. Add in some nice music, a little laughter and we would pass this as celebrating Christmas. I definitely could not say, “I had a lonely and sad Christmas.” But how would this all sound without my Jessika. The main ingredient here, is a friend. Nothing else would be important.
Plans were changed, when Jessika had met a wonderful Gentleman, named Giovanny. This very nice and gracious young man made the offer to fix our Christmas dinner, right here, serve it and join us for the evening. A Christmas present early for Jessika and me. How wonderful, see, another friend!
Giovanny created his magic in the kitchen while Jessika and I had a lively conversation. The dinner plates appeared, they looked like a Stil life, beautiful. The steak was done to perfection, drizzled with a little of the tasty juice from the pan and sliced. On the side something very special, at least to me, beautiful Chanterelle mushrooms, my favorite mushrooms. And these were gathered by Giovanny in the forest, that makes them extra special. A flavorful and delicate taste of these golden nuggets. To contribute, just a little to this great dinner, I had baked a chocolate Gateau and served it warm with coffee.
The reason I wished to tell this short story is showing that earthly things, riches of monetary value or wealth do not make the ingredient to happiness or contentment, it is the dear friends we have, people who add such value to our lives, we certainly can not live without.
I have mentioned before in some of my short stories, how much of a part in my life now, without my Hal, my friends play, they are my riches and the greatest gift to me, that I could wish for.
As long as my life is enriched by all my wonderful friends, keep the Christmases coming!
Thank you dear Giovanny and dear Jessika for your friendship and making Christmas 2024 memorable for me.
I have been a widow now seven years and have been living here at Woodland. When I came, I did not use a cane or any help for getting about. Then, I put the cane behind me and after a serious fall, I am now using a walker. I very seldom leave my apartment to go any distance away from here. So, when my 97th birthday came along, all my friends and family members wanted to celebrate with me.
My dearest friend and lovely niece, Marcie, wanted to do it all right here in our community dining room on the second floor. When the day came, Marcie came with all the food, anything one could wish for. She set up a long, beautiful and delicious buffet in the dining room and set up the tables and chairs to look inviting to all the guests. Karin, my dear, dear friend brought bubbly and a fine torte with cream and fresh strawberries, my favorite birthday cake!
We had almost ALL my friends and family here, except Peter and Laura two beloved friends, who were traveling and dear, dear friends Luc, his wife Julie, they were on vacation in Europe.
It was a wonderful and memorable afternoon and for me a glorious celebration and the most beautiful birthday present I could have wished for.
At my advanced life time, happiness is rare and comes in small portions. But this, my birthday this year, I received one of the greatest gifts one could ever wish for. The love of friends and of family are a blessing, one can not purchase, it is a rare gift. I feel honored to be the recipient of that love and friendship and I am happy to give my love to all of them. I do know, how rich I am.
It was Christmas 1937, I was 10 years old. I had been riding since I was 6 years old. The instructor at the riding academy had a talk with my father about a riding courier for me, not in dressage, but in jumping. He told my father I had potential in jumping, I had the courage and stamina to not only be good, but in another 10 years be great and have the right stuff to strive for the 1948 Olympic Games.
My father loved to hear this from a professional view, which this instructor had, he was military and very disciplined. My training got more rigorous and the instructor more critical.
Our mama and Mrs. Nietsche were very busy in the kitchen, while we, my brother Wolfgang, my sister Friedl and I polished up our little song for tonight, Christmas Eve. We planned something different from past Christmas eves when we would individually perform a rhyme or sang a song. The doors to the living room are closed, since the decorating was being in full swing. We would be outside the closed doors to recite. Then, the doors would be opened and there in all its glory was this awesome Noble Tree, decorated, all the candles burning bright and with smiles on their faces, papa and mama standing there in the glow of this magnificent tree, waiting with open arms. After big hugs, inviting us to come and find our presents the angels had brought to us on Christ’s birthday.
Tonight we three had a surprise for our parents and the angels. We had studied together to sing “Silent Night” together as one and hoped, we would please everyone by this performance:
Angels, Jesus, Mama and Papa. It worked as we could see on their eyes with the tears ready to roll down their cheeks. We all, Mrs. Kramer and Mrs. Nietsche too, gathered around the big, beautiful tree with it’s many candles and wonderful fragrance. Our mama had decorated large plated with a blossom, an orchid and offered an assortment of beautiful chocolates and many different home made cookies to everyone, to give us strength to handle all the presents.
When it was my turn I saw an envelope with my name. I opened it and with my heart pounding I found a picture first, it was of a long-legged, like a sawhorse foal and with it, was the certificate of this sweet and beautiful baby horse. The certificate had date of birth, her ancestry and her name. Like always with Trakehners, a long and noble name, but the end result was: “The beautiful Anna.” I did not know what to say, so I cried and threw my arms around my father and mother.
I knew it! I knew it that some day I would own one of these magnificent creatures.
It was a glorious Christmas eve and tomorrow I get to see my “Anna Bella” at the Marstall, the facility where the Grand Duke’s cavalry regiment is housed. My horse will be stabled there, and the riding academy is located in that complex. My horse Anna Bella is now two years old, a Trakehner, a European warmblood of East Prussian origin. She is a beautiful brown with black mane and tail, a long neck and the sweetest eyes one wants to see. I can not wait until tomorrow.
My dear father drove me to the Marstall, early. The groom brought my Anna Bella to me. I got to put my arms around her and planted a kiss on her nose and talked with her. The instructor also appeared and we talked for a while. He assured me, that this lady would be an amazing jumper with me. I was the happiest person, right now, in the world.
I knew it! This day would come! The wonderful part of this all is: That she is mine, all mine!
