Stella by Starlight
I opened Facebook today and there was a dedication to me from my nephew Jay Harwood, my niece Caralee’s husband. He sent me a recording of him playing Stella by Starlight with his friends. As I listened, emotional tears ran down my cheeks. How blessed I am to have so many people that love and care about me. The holidays are a very vulnerable time for me. Jay reached out and touched my heart as if he could sense my pain from across the continents.
I think of the time when Jay and Caralee left the US as a young couple to emigrate to Israel. They were so young, so brave. They stayed in New York with Peter and me for a short while, then left to Eli, Israel. There they have raised four beautiful and intelligent daughters. They came to visit several times with the girls. I have so many memories of their visits.
The string of love remain strong despite the distance between us. So many years have passed.
Today, I was feeling particularly alone. It is holiday season and everyone is busy celebrating. I was reading in my room when Kelly returned from going out with his friends. He came up to my room and said, ‘’Mum, you promised to teach me how to make macaroni and cheese.’’ Glad to have something to do, l went into the kitchen and proceeded to show him. Soon, he had it under control and asked me to sit on the other side of the kitchen, just in case he needed further assistance. I moved to the dining area of the room. I opened the iPad lying on the table and went to Facebook. There was a message from Jay.
’’This pretty, old song “Stella by Starlight” is dedicated to Auntie Stella Cooperman . Thanks for writing down and sharing all your beautiful true stories, especially about Iran in a different time. I’m playing the alto saxophone with my friends in the band “ he wrote.
I read this message once and then I read it once more. Tears began to run down my cheeks. From feeling lonely, alone and unwanted, I suddenly did not feel so any longer.
I listened to the music and in my memory I went back in time oh so many years ago, I no longer recall how many. The years are running into each other, in one long string of memories. It was Christmas time. It was evening and it was snowing. The world seemed to be in a magical peaceful hush. It felt that we were nestled in our own perfect little world. The logs in the fireplace were crackling away, as they gave a soft warm glow to the room. Our dog Max was curled up contentedly by the fire, dozing. Peter and I were lazily cuddled into each other on the sofa, also gazing at the fire. The radio in the other room was on an uninterrupted
music station, due to it being Christmas. Then ‘Stella by Starlight’ came on. Peter rose, pulled me up and gently took me in his arms. There, on that snowy Christmas evening, in the middle of the living room, by the light of the lit logs in the fireplace, we danced… Remembering that evening, a smile curls about my lips.
Thank you my sweet, thoughtful and gentle Jay for that special gift you have given me today. I love you for it. I listen and listen to you playing. You bring calmness to my soul.