“We came to the U.S. when I was 4 and she was 7. She was thrown into school without knowing anything, and she ended up teaching me English so that when I started kindergarten I could communicate. She was not just a big sister; she was a pioneer.”
Do you still feel like the big sister ? “I do. I still feel like I know more than him.”
“I was born in Russia in 1943, during the war. Our parents were not in concentration camps—they were running. Both my brothers were born in Germany in a displaced persons camp after the war. The war was over in 1945, and we didn’t leave the camp unt
Did y’all get along as kids? “Oh yeah. All three of us did.” “We didn’t really fight. If one needed money or anything…we always helped. He loaned me $500 for my first car.” “When we came to this country it felt like such a family effort—a team e
“He had so much interest in baseball and football, and my parents had none. He was a star quarterback. It was hard on him because for most parents their whole life is about their kids’ sports, but to our parents sports weren’t a big deal. I still re
“I loved American Bandstand! I had to bribe them to let me watch it. One TV and two brothers who didn’t want to watch it. I had to pay 50 cents to my youngest brother so I could watch it without him going crazy and blocking my view.”
What did y’all do for fun? “We used to buzz the drive-through. (Did you ever see American Graffiti? It was like that.) I still remember that he had just gotten his permit but I had to drive with him. He and his buddies would be in the front seat a
What’s the best thing about having siblings? “I always felt when I was growing up that my siblings were a part of me. I never could hate or be bitter about them because it was like hating myself. I think the same way about our children and grandch
“I know families that don’t speak to each other. The sisters don’t speak to each other…a father and son might not speak to each other…I can’t understand it! I mean, you can have an argument but somehow you gotta make up, you know?”
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