I recently found some items in my basement that once belonged to my late grandfather, which is why this article is about memories of my grandfather for Father’s Day 2024. It is far more personal than artistic or reminiscent about travel. I loved my mother and my father; but no one was more important to me in my life than my grandfather, as I was incredibly close to him.
Memories of My Grandfather For Father’s Day 2024. Sunday Morning Photograph.
His Singer sewing machine is one of the most sentimental items which I have in my possession. He was technically a tailor; but he worked magic with that sewing machine. He designed and created such complex garments as wedding dresses; and he successfully repaired any piece of clothing I gave to him — no matter what was the damage. He simply had this knack of taking garments that seemed hopelessly worn or torn and resurrected them to seem like they were new. I had no idea how he did that; but as I said, he worked his magic — and quickly, too.
Many more memories were associated with this old sewing machine. The metal piece that held the thread from the spool or bobbin to the needle itself reminded me of a telephone pole, as the threads resembled wires. I have the old wooden ruler he used to use to measure the garments as he repaired them. He also had a chalking device that stood vertically and held a jar of white powder, which would puff a light cloud of dust when I squeezed the rubber bulb at the top of it when I was a little boy.
I can still hear that old sewing machine humming in my head. It likely still works. I have not powered it up and tried it in years.
His first initial and last name — Cohen, of course — was carved in a wooden box that still contains spools of yarn to this day. I also have a heavy suitcase that belonged to him which also contains spools of yarn.
He typically did not wear a hat; but on the holiest of Jewish holidays, he wore the hat — which is resting on the aforementioned wooden box — to attend services at shul, or the synagogue or temple. The hat was purchased in Brooklyn, where he lived most of his life. I remember the sunny days when he wore that hat as he held my hand and walked me up and down Ocean Parkway on Yom Kippur.
Final Boarding Call
My grandfather taught me a lot of things — from learning how to play games such as poker and chess to many aspects of Judaism to some of the best advice that I have ever received, which was simple yet powerful. He was even responsible for my dislike of alcoholic beverages, as he once had me try a sip of cold beer from his small brown glass bottle when I was a very young boy. Blech! He laughed at my reaction to his offering.
Speaking of laughing, I inherited a lot of my sense of humor from him. He could do no wrong in my eyes — or in the eyes of anyone else, for that matter.
If I have one regret, it is that I never traveled with my grandfather. Then again, he was not much of a traveler anyway; so it is not a substantial regret.
I could not have asked for a better role model in my life than my grandfather. Losing him was incredibly difficult for me. I still miss him terribly almost 30 years after he passed away…
…but my son Matthew Cohen — who never met his great grandfather and in fact was named after him with his first initial — reminds me of him sometimes with his mannerisms, which is amazing and sometimes downright creepy how much he reminds me of my grandfather.
I will always cherish the memories of my grandfather for Father’s Day 2024 — and well beyond that.
The purpose of the weekly series of Sunday Morning Photograph articles is to feature photographs from my travels around the world which you can view while enjoying your morning coffee.
Please click here for a complete list of the Sunday Morning Photograph series of articles at The Gate With Brian Cohen, which include photographs taken of nature and sights of interest in many countries and territories around the world — including but not limited to:
Andorra • Argentina • Australia • Austria • Bahamas • Bahrain • Belgium • Belarus • Botswana • Brazil • Bulgaria • Canada • China • Chile • Colombia • Côte d’Ivoire or Ivory Coast • Cyprus — including the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus • Czechia or Czech Republic • Denmark • Dominican Republic • Egypt • England in Great Britain in the United Kingdom • Estonia • Finland • France • Germany • Hungary • Iceland • Ireland • Italy • Kenya • Latvia • Lebanon • Lesotho • Liechtenstein • Lithuania • Luxembourg • Malaysia • Morocco • Mozambique • Netherlands • New Zealand • Oman • Panama • Philippines • Poland • Portugal • Romania • Singapore • Slovenia • South Africa • South Korea • Spain • Swaziland or Eswatini • Sweden • Switzerland • Thailand • United Arab Emirates • United States of America • Uruguay
All photographs ©1983 by Brian Cohen.
