I’m coming over. I assume that her memory is being affected by the medication she’s taking and don’t think too much about it.
It turns out that Lucille and I both arrive at grandma’s house at the same time. After the upsetting scene we had the last time we were together, I wish she’d have picked another time to come. I’m annoyed that I can’t speak openly with grandma, as I wanted to. I figure I may as well tell Lucille my “cover story” and I do…to the expected effect.
She’s definitely annoyed. “You pick a great time to leave the country, with grandma sick!” The irritation is evident in my voice but I try to keep it in check as I answer.
“Look, it’s been a long time since I’ve had a decent vacation and this has been in the works for a very long time.”
Just then grandma breaks in and asks, “So where will you be going?”
I’m so startled that I lose my train of thought! What exactly is she up to? Grandma then turns toward the kitchen and asks “How about a cup of tea?”
After staying as short a time as I could get away with, I beg off and say I have lots of errands to run, and I do.
By tonight I plan to have the itinerary arranged, the reservations and plane tickets taken care of, and the communication with my contact in Warsaw, Mr. Walenski, done.
I lay out a few of the documents about which I wanted to talk to grandma and write out the questions to ask her, so I won’t forget.
One of the papers is a document from the International Tracing Service, I.T.S. It is dated 9.5.49. Is that September 5th or May 9th? In Europe the day goes first and then the month and year, I think. Here it’s month, day and then year.
I wonder why she made this inquiry to the I.T.S. and who Salma Weiss is. Could that be her real name? Is Sara her Jewish name and Sally a nickname?
The birth year is the same as grandma Sal’s, 1930. Sal could be a nickname for Salma rather than Sally. Was Weiss her maiden name?
I realize I never actually knew her maiden name, I just knew her by Berman, her married name which she kept after her divorce. The date in 1949 was apparently just before my grandmother entered the United States.
There is also a document in German. It says:
PERSONAL AUSWEIS
Britische Zone
Name - WEISS, SALMA
File no. - F 18-108
BD - 1930
BP - Lublin
Nationality - Polish Jew
Next of Kin (blank)
Book - B.P. 250
Source of information -
Central Jewish Committee/AJDC
Bergen-Belsen Poland, Warsaw
Last Known Location-
Szczecin, Zupansk 17
The rest of the lines are blank except Remarks.
It says IN TRANSIT.
There is another document in German. It has an address, Rheinallee 26. I research it briefly and the German is fairly easy to translate.
It appears to be an identity card carried by Germans. It has the same name, Salma Weiss.
If it is grandma, how did she get from Poland to Germany and why? If Weiss isn’t her maiden name, was she married before she arrived in the U.S.? She would have been about 19, but that’s certainly not impossible.
I look at the picture again and wish I could talk to grandma now, but it’s probably better to do it in person than on the phone.
My order from TravelSmith was scheduled for next day shipping and it has already arrived. It looks perfect for this trip. The outfits are simple, all of them coordinate. They can be hand washed and dried overnight and don’t need ironing, at least according to the brochure.
In case of a cold snap, I’m taking along a heavy pair of gray wool slacks and a good sweater that will fit under my raincoat. I’ve also bought a pair of nice black boots. I intend to travel as light as I can.
I picked up a small folding umbrella that will fit in my bag. I decided not to bring all those documents with me, but have scanned them into my laptop so I can have access anytime I need them.
I make sure I’ve got a European charger and converter for my phone and laptop. I’m still looking for a small hand held scanner to use in Europe. I may have to buy one when I get there. Come to think of it, maybe I don’t need to. There’s sure to be one I can use in Mr. Walenski’s office.
My list of questions lays on top of the computer, ready for my next visit with grandma Sal. Almost everything is ready for the trip and I’m really beginning to look forward to it.
****
I slept late this morning and realize I’ll be late at Grandma’s, so I call her. My mother picks up the phone and says she’s taking grandma for a follow up doctor’s visit. It surprises me that grandma didn’t tell me that the appointment was scheduled, since she was expecting me to visit.
I ask mom if it’s possible to talk to grandma for a bit before they leave. She calls her to the phone.
“Grandma, can you talk?”
“What do you mean? Of course, with you I can always talk.”
“What I mean is, are you alone…is Mom standing nearby?”
Grandma seems flustered and responds, “So ask already!”
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