Morrie Markoff – Born Jan. 11, 1914 – Passed June 3, 2024
Metal Sculpture Artist, Photographer, Writer and Los Angeleno
I am so sorry.
I picked up and put down the heavy envelope you sent asking me for a critique of your work.
After reading a few pages, my eyes began to tear.
The writing I’m reading is blurry. The few pages I read impressed me. I am not a “maven” of writing but based upon what I did read, I would give it 5 stars.
Have it published.
With “mucho” love,
Pappy
P.S. I predict it will be a “best seller.”
Noted for my energy, which I am now running out of, I am tired.
It’s been quite a while (I can’t keep track of time since Danny and I left Garden Crest) and much has happened.
My beloved wife and companion has died. I was holding her and bent close to her. “Betsy doll, I love you.”
Too weak to talk, she looked at me and smiled. Mustering all the strength she had, she squeezed my hand deeply and exhaled her last breath. With her eyes and mouth open, she left this world.
I closed her eyes and mouth, tears welling up in my eyes, too grief-stricken to say anything to the many people around me. I hurriedly left the room knowing my life will never be the same. It was 4:15 a.m. Sept. 21, 2019.
* * *
I remembered the words of the Rabbi who married us.
“Till death I you part.” So true. Betty was the only girl I dated, and married. I never had a desire for or wanted anyone else.
I am thankful for the 84 years of marriage we had. Of course, we had our differences, harsh words were spoken, we didn’t talk to each other for a day or so. I could see the sadness on her face. My anger over our disagreement dissipated (over what I can’t even remember). In bed, one or the other of us put our arms around the other and said, “I’m sorry.” Our gesture was never rejected. We fell asleep with our arms around each other.
After Betty’s death, our family talked about having a memorial, but it never happened nor is it necessary. Anyone who knew Betty will remember her. She was sweetness personified. Betty was loved by all who knew her. She was the best. I’m sure there are many “Bettys” in the world. Once she said to me, “Would you marry me again?” (with tongue in cheek). “Absolutely,” I replied.
Without Betty, life has not been the same. I feel an emptiness within me. I miss not holding her soft hand.Betsy doll, wherever you are, on earth or on a star, that’s where I want to be.
I love you. You will always be in my thoughts and my pleasant memories.Goodnight my love.
I opened one eye to look at my bedside clock.
I closed my eye.
I still had 15 minutes to go before I knew Danny would be shaking my shoulder rousing me out of bed. If you saw Danny you too would offer no resistance. I got out of bed. The clock said 7:45am.
Danny went back to the kitchen to finish making the bacon and eggs.
By that time I was washed, dressed and sitting at the large round dining room table anticipating the meal Danny was about to serve me. He said “It is a beautiful day.”
I agreed. I will try to spend the day as pleasantly as possible.
I would be happy if Betty was with me and I was holding her hand, which I was when she passed away a short time ago.
Nothing lasts forever.
I’m going to the table as Danny is about to serve dinner. He is a good cook, although while in the army he served three years as an M.P.
Don’t mess with Danny.
I just finished the egg roll he had served me. Tasty but it would not be my best choice. It assuaged my appetite.
Morrie Markoff, May 8, 2020
My caregiver Danny Chang and I left Garden Crest April 1st to the Promenade because of a virus in Garden Crest. We had to stay there 14 days to determine if the coronavirus developed. On April 14, we were free of the virus.
Circumstances today are different from the pandemic influenza of 1918. With the knowledge gained from that experience, precautions can be taken to mitigate its destructive effects. The coronavirus is highly contagious and is easily passed on by close contact of people.
Our President Donald Trump poo-pooed its existence and declared it a hoax. Finally convinced by its reality, he issued presidential edicts, safeguards, etc. prohibiting all public events, asking people to stay home and avoid close contact of under six feet, and wear face masks. Despite all precautions, people are falling victim to the coronavirus and hospitals are quickly overloaded. Large gatherings were declared illegal.
At this time, our country is suffering a pandemic of enormous proportions. No one knows how long it will last or the human and monetary costs.
What a mess. It has never happened before in human history. It is being played out and we will have to wait and see.
(Morrie Markoff was born in 1914. From his memoir “Keep Breathing” available from Amazon.com and other online booksellers – “I was born, with no certainty, on Jan. 11, 1914. There are no baptismal or hospital records. My mother, Rose, gave birth to me with only a midwife and neighbor attending, in a tenement building at 330 E. 101st, in East Harlem New York City.”)
So many things have happened the last few days it boggles my mind. We didn’t know that when we left Garden Crest that the deadly coronavirus had infected one of the residents and health authorities had placed a quarantine on the entire facility.
When we arrived at my daughter Judy’s apartment at Promenade West, where Danny and I are now living, we found Judy with both hands filled with stuff she was taking to a cabin retreat she owns in a nearby mountain city.
“Have a good trip,” I said and kissed her goodbye.
After a short stay, Danny and I went to the apartment door to leave. Suddenly, the door opened. The Promenade West director was standing there.
“Mr. Markoff,” she said, “you cannot leave here because you and Danny have come from Garden Crest where one of the residents caught and died from the contagious coronavirus. You might be unknowingly a carrier. You cannot leave here for 14 days.”
“Please give me a minute to talk to Danny,” I said.
“Danny,” I said, “I don’t mind staying here for the necessary 14 days, how do you feel about it?”
“I’ll make a phone call to my wife Gloria and stay here with you,” he said.
We spent the 14-day period pleasantly.
Quarantined, Danny had food delivered to our door.
We did a lot of reading. The L.A. Times was delivered to our door. We watched a lot of TV news programs and specials.
The 14-day lockdown period passed quickly.
Judy showed up. “Dad,” she said, “you have a choice. You can leave here and go back to Garden Crest or stay where you are.”
Turning to Danny, I said, “I’m staying. How do you feel?”
Danny answered, “Me, too.”
Sent May 2019
Morrie Markoff - Born Jan. 11, 1914 - Passed June 3, 2024 