Joseph Berger
Memories of my cousin Midge
Midge always had a smile for me, always gave me these huge all embracing hugs. She always wanted to know what I was up to and always had something positive to say. She was so much like Anita in that way.
Our family on my mother’s side is very small. My mom and Anita are first cousins and both are only children. Anita, Leon, Rick and Midge were pretty much the only relatives in town so we spent many, many holidays together. So much so that they are part of family legend.
Passover, of course, was a very big deal for our family and we invariably wound up at the Kruger house. Most of the relatives were elderly from the Katz side of the family. But it was always such a wonderful, warm, fun and very meaningful experience.
As a teenager, Midge used to joke about hoping that the real, very handsome Elijah would show up one day she went to open the door for him. One year, I don’t recall who talked me into it, but I snuck out just before that portion of the service, put on my grandfather’s (Great Uncle Charley) hat and trench coat and waited by the door. When she opened it, I said something like “My fiery chariot is double parked so let’s hurry up.”
You can imagine her reaction. I know longer recall exactly what happened, there are so many versions now of how she reacted, but personally, I recall feeling excited that I was about to trick one of my favorite cousins.
Memories of my cousin Midge
Midge always had a smile for me, always gave me these huge all embracing hugs. She always wanted to know what I was up to and always had something positive to say. She was so much like Anita in that way.
Our family on my mother’s side is very small. My mom and Anita are first cousins and both are only children. Anita, Leon, Rick and Midge were pretty much the only relatives in town so we spent many, many holidays together. So much so that they are part of family legend.
Passover, of course, was a very big deal for our family and we invariably wound up at the Kruger house. Most of the relatives were elderly from the Katz side of the family. But it was always such a wonderful, warm, fun and very meaningful experience.
As a teenager, Midge used to joke about hoping that the real, very handsome Elijah would show up one day she went to open the door for him. One year, I don’t recall who talked me into it, but I snuck out just before that portion of the service, put on my grandfather’s (Great Uncle Charley) hat and trench coat and waited by the door. When she opened it, I said something like “My fiery chariot is double parked so let’s hurry up.”
You can imagine her reaction. I know longer recall exactly what happened, there are so many versions now of how she reacted, but personally, I recall feeling excited that I was about to trick one of my favorite cousins.