Mama & Papa

When Mom & Pop came to this country, they had been living in a DP camp in Stuttgard, Germany. Angie was actually born there. They had to wait to find a sponsor to bring them to America. Papa was so grateful- he painted their house- inside and out, while starting a job at Ford Motor Company and trying to learn English.

Papa made a name for himself dancing at different events. He started to dance when he was very young in Armenia, and won competitions in Moscow and elsewhere. He survived the war dancing for the armies, after he was a POW.

He has certificates from the Michigan State Fair and the 250th Anniversary of the City of Detroit. He has certificates from Congress and many cities for his participation in celebrations. He danced until a few years ago-he danced at Zaven's baptism 2 years ago.

Mama stayed up nights sewing costumes and danced right next to him. She recently danced at Talin's birthday and at Shant's wedding. She just turned 82 on the 6th. I hope I am still able to dance at that age. Papa turned 91 on March 1st this year.

5/9/08 Papa has always loved his garden. He had me take pictures of all his plants and I put them alltogether in a little book for him. He actually made a title page- "Jora's Garden" - and showed it to all his friends at the club. Lately he's gotten so tired he hardly goes out there any more but there was a time not too long ago when he was climbing down the hill in back to his tomato plants and grape vines. He would put in pieces of dried up plants in the ground and sprout the most beautiful plants. I put in a beautiful plant and end up with dried up sticks! I talked to Mom today- she said Pop was sitting outside in the patio.

63 years. They have been married for 63 years. There are times when I can't be around Willie for 63 minutes and they've been together for 63 years. They survived a war. They survived coming to a brand new country. They survived not knowing if their families were still alive or not. They survived raising three kids. They survived and did well. These days we complain about our difficult lives. Hmm. Could we have survived being picked up and put in labor camp at the age of fifteen? Being torn away from family so no one knew if you were alive?  I'd like to think I could do what was necessary to protect myself and my family- but do I have their strength? Thank God - Thanks to them and their sacrifices I don't have to find out. Hopefully my children will one day say that I did what was necessary for them to have a better life.

I don't know how to thank my parents. I don't know how to apologize for the crap we put them through. I can only try to love them and pray they realize how grateful I am for their love.