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Our lives in 1st Person
Jewish community members tell their stories in their own words
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We experience The Gift of the Magi
By Joel A. Moskowitz M D
SAN DIEGO—When I was in grade school, I admired O. Henry's short story, The Gift of the Magi. It was a story of love, sacrifice and devotion. Little did I think then that I would be acting it out in my own life.
O Henry's theme is of two persons in love who at some significant
sacrifice give the other a gift. She sells her hair to buy a fob for his gold watch. He sells his watch to buy a special comb for her glorious hair. She no longer has the hair into which the comb might be set. He no longer owned a gold watch toaffix to a fob. Yet they had a greater gift - love.
This just past weekend of April 28 and 29, my loving wife and I
exchanged similar gifts. At Arlene's persuasion, I had allowed my name
to be entered in the selection for an Medical Master Teacher Award to be presented on the occasion of this years Annual Alumni Celebration.
Photo: Courtesy Pacificaires
It had been 50 years since my graduation from State University College of Medicine in New York City. It was with a mixture of pride andhumility that I learned that I had been chosen to receive the Richard Day Master Teacher Award for Achievement in Pediatrics. The ceremony was scheduled for April 28 in New York City.
For Arlene this same weekend was scheduled to be an experience for
which she had yearned since her youth. Although blessed with a
beautiful high soprano voice. her parents preferred she take piano
lessons instead. More recently Arlene, with my encouragement,
returned to singing. She sang in several Synagogue choral groups. Knowledgeable music educators told her that her voice would be more suitable for Italian opera. The opportunity to perform such a classical
piece in an illustrious venue as the Annual Balboa Park Festival in San Diego eluded her.. until April 29.
Arlene's encouragement led to my having been designated as recipient
ofthe prestigious Master Teacher Award from my medical school. My
encouragement that she earnestly pursues her desire to sing resulted in
her singing an Italian Operatic piece "Nella Fantasia." Both Arlene's
performance and the Award Ceremony at which I was to receive
the Master Teacher Award were on the same weekend, 3000 miles apart. Arlene didn't want me to miss this once-in-a-lifetime experience. I chose
to forgo the presentation ceremony for my award (April 28, New
York City) [My sister, Sheila, graciously agreed to accept it for me].
Rather, I would thrill to Arlene's long longed for chance to sing
operatically (April 29, San Diego).
The parallels to the theme of the Gift of the Magi, and our lives seem
poignant. O. Henry wrote, "But in a last word to the wise of these days
let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest. O all
who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere they are
wisest. They are the magi."
Editor's Note: Mazal Tov to both of you. How sweet love can be.
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