Happily Ever Laughter

Even as a child, I was overcome by the quest for a Soul mate. Looking around at couples walking in the streets of Tel-Aviv, I was curious. I’d see them walking hand-in-hand, talking and smiling, sometimes gazing at one another, sometimes laughing at some little shared nothing, and I would wonder ... what brings two people together? It was a mystery to me, and even at a very young age I wanted to find the answer.

Tel-Aviv was a beautiful pearl of a city. Nestled by the Mediterranean Sea, it came with its own unique old world signature. My mother (Ima in Hebrew) and I were blessed to live with my grandparents at the time, and their calm and beautiful home was near Kikar Massarik (Massarik Boulevard), one of the smaller tree-lined avenues that attracted couples of all ages.

Every day, my grandmother (Savta in Hebrew) and I strolled hand-in-hand down Kikar Massarik. I loved this time with my Savta and the sense of belonging to someone so dear. She had a peace about her that was contagious and instilled feelings of safety and security in all who came in contact with her. It was during these walks with my Savta that I fell in love with Love itself. It was then that my “longing to belong” began. I wanted to be one of those couples in Kikar Massarik, who held hands, were into each other and seemed so cozy and happy. Then, coming back from our stroll, I was always delighted to see my grandfather (Saba in Hebrew) waiting for us with a warm embrace for my Savta, and a snack in his hand for me.

My Savta and Saba, Naomi and Avraham Sulganik, were a couple who made a deep impact on me throughout my life. I was determined to model my life after their relationship when I grew up. They seemed grounded in a love that united them and had all the right ingredients to make their partnership work. I wanted just that. I knew that my Soul chose to be born to my family of origin, in their merit, and I was so honored to be their granddaughter.

But let's start at the very beginning.

My story actually begins before I was born, when my parents married at the young ages of nineteen and twenty-four. It was the thing to do in those days, especially since they were high school sweethearts.

My Ima was ready for a true love relationship, whatever that meant for her. My biological father (Aba in Hebrew) wanted no responsibilities in his life. As an only child, he wanted to party and to be carefree. It was all about him. My Ima believed that having a child would help him mature and “grow up.”

I was born on December 27, 1952, in Tel-Aviv, Israel. In those days, moms and babies were kept in the hospital for a week. Throughout this entire week, my biological father never came to visit us, not even once. So much for “growing up.”