Opening Up A Whole New Case of Slides

Saturday, January 16, 2021

It’s amazing how much I am hesitating to look at the few remaining things that my parents have that belonged to Lenny. I wonder why I didn’t bring all of it over to my place. At first, it seemed like a lot, piled up on the table in their garage. But now it seems disappointingly only a little. Little treasures that I am not sure what to do with. Part of me feels like maybe I should not look at what is in the metal suitcase. I see a name, Elena. Perhaps personal photos. There should be some sense of respect for Lenny’s privacy.

I keep thinking about my mom’s comment about how Lenny did not want to be photographed. And that he struggled after returning from service. What I saw of him as a girl was what he chose to reveal to me. I was so young. And he had already seen and experienced so much. I loved him so fiercely and I feel like no matter what I might learn about him, I would still feel that way. And yet I feel like we should close the case.