Selma! She was a wonderful friend to my mother, Anita (aka Blondie), for over 70 years, and for as long as I remember, like a second mother to my sister, Janet, and me.
One memory I have as clear as a bell is of a bunch of us kids sitting around a table doing things with string and paint on paper (and no doubt on the table, ourselves, the floor,etc.). Jon and Franny were there, and so was Janet and maybe Gloria. My folks were sitting with Bruce in the living room, and Selma was in the kitchen cooking – when she wasn’t running up and down the stairs doing who-knows-what for her parents, getting something for my dad, or commenting on our artwork.
You would have thought there was nothing else going on, the way she kvelled about each of our masterpieces. I loved the way Selma talked to us, and how every time I saw her, she raved about whatever her kids were doing. It was always terrific. They were always fantastic. How lucky we all were to have someone in our lives who gave us so much unconditional love.
Among her many weaving projects were over a dozen magnificent ties that she made for my dad. Every time he wore one, he showed the “Hand Woven by Selma Zorn” label to pretty much everyone he saw. I’ve inherited the ties, and plan to use them as a window valance, so I’ll get to look at them every day. It’ll be a “two-fer,” full of wonderful memories of my dad and Selma (aka Ketsl / little cat – anyone know why she was called that?).
