Love from: Marian Weisberg
TO LAUREN,
Here's a toast of you my dear cousin.
You are adventurous, an explorer with an enormous curiosity about people, history, law,
the environment. You love your family, your home, and yet you are a huge traveler…
Also, you are a loyal and loving husband, father.
We first met, you were about 10, and your parents had brought you to a California
family visit. I think I must have been 21. Your father, Hans Vasservogel, was
the"favorite" cousin of Trude, my mother. Both our mothers were Aquarians,
born February 2. Many are the times we have compared the similarities of our
mothering experience! Both women accomplished and unique, and culturally
hybrid living in two countries and two realities. Of course following these family dramas,
was the experience of being the only child of Viennese (and Czech) Jewish Refugees
Meeting again, as grownups, in Washington DC, you were looking for your wife to be. I tried to assist you in this search,
attempting to introduce you to my friend Dierdre English. She, however, had already paired up with your best friend Don, and, when he died
tragically in an airplane crash, you were there for her, helping her sort out the messy finances, and legal issues.
And we now are all friends together to this day…
You met Karen, the most empathic and loving woman one could imagine.
You chose well, and what a good life you made together. And included in her
extended family, giving you access to another family experience altogether!
Most importantly you have also raised two amazing young men.
Karen claims that an off hand remark I made, at a time when she was collecting Cows art images,
led you to decide toward both marriage/children or, children/marriage. Your wedding in the Vineyard was quite
wonderful. And your decision to build a nest (several) in Massachusetts, and raising children
together has been a major fulfillment of your life along with your other many accomplishments.
Typically you have stayed athletically fit with tennis, a game played with others, as friends
have also been so very important. You have collected an amazing variety of interesting friendships!
You have always been a social person, and many a time, especially in Martha's Vineyard, there
was very interesting folks at the dinner table.
Of your professional career I'm not familiar, but your lawyer skill allowed you to help Trude,
make claims of the inheritance of an Inn in Czechoslovakia, which rendered, post war and post Communist
regime, a grand total of $6000. Thanks for negotiating the Czech bureaucracy in our behalf! It took
a lot of time, and effort!
Thanks for the Sanctuary you provided for so many years in Martha's Vineyard. Especially shortly
after 9/11, when David and I, exhausted from the peril of living in New York City, were able to
find solace and healing, being with you there for a few precious days.
In typical fashion, you and Karen developed a style of fashion unique, sort of funky elegance, and
your decorating style has always been special and delightful to behold. Karen's painted stones
add a touch of something very special!
On another note: December, 1995, we took a trip to Vienna together. We stayed at a little hotel that you found,
near where Mozart had lived! Our experience was multifold…to explore Vienna. Where we walked, and
walked and talked and walked. The Raatskeller, the Museums, the Flea Market. (I still have the
amazing find, Opera glasses, circa 1902). And, meeting with your relatives, the Wasservogel branch, as well
as my visit to the town hall to determine the fate of my Grandmother in 1942. It was a challenging and en
visit to a world to which we identified, finding familiar vibes, but not of our making any longer.
A great adventure and a time to be together in cousin mode. It was also quite sobering.
It seems that we were also trying to imagine the life of our ancestors, as well as put into place
the effect of the Holocaust on both our lives. Recently, with Covid lockdown, you have become
increasingly interest in the life of our forebearers. In German, we say "Wieder Gut Machen"
translated as "Making Good Again". Perhaps to be interpreted as, focus on healing from
the murders and displacement of our extended family and set the world right again.
To that extent, we have shared a journey into the past, to live a better present. (hopefully)
And an unusual and special bond, spending many hours of discussion together. Our generation
is called the "second generation" and it has been so meaningful to share this journey of inner self
exploration with you.
Certainly, your present life, with understandable stresses, has been one of wonderful accomplishment,
and satisfaction. Here you are, living on a wonderful California Houseboat. You have created,
reaching age 70, a wonderful life for yourself. Sufficiency, love, family, adventure, friendship,
and life as a conscious person. And, how many folks can take a Yoga class from their talented son!
Cousin, I love you, and congratulate you many times over,
Marian
