Clara and the Wolf

So, I first met my little cousin Clara when she was 7 weeks old in Strasbourg, France where she was born and raised. She’s the daughter of my beloved cousin Corinne, who passed away several years ago.  I think of Corinne often.  Corinne and I met when we were 18, on my first trip to France, when I met a lot of the French side of my family. Corinne and I had adventures, lots of laughs, read the same books and bonded instantly. From the get go, Clara was very much her own person and wonderful, as you will see. On this trip, Corinne, Clara and I went to visit our Great Uncle who lived in Germany (we are Jewish and I never really understood it, but everyone gets to make their own choices). The EU borders weren’t as porous in those days and there were checkpoints.  Midway, I suddenly remembered I had forgotten to bring my passport.  Corinne said, “I will kill you.” Corinne always had her American idioms down.  Well, 2 women with a baby - we weren’t stopped.

 I ran the Paris marathon, and Corinne, Clara and Martine (another cousin) were there to watch.  I had given Clara a leopard Beanie Baby called Freckles. Clara’s 7-year old French tongue could not quite manage that name, but she was really cute about trying and trying. Clara even brought Freckles to cheer me on. They were waiting for me at the 13^th mile, and here too Clara tried, “Frah Kols.”

Corinne and family were in New York. Clara, 14, would be taking an exam to gain entrance into an English school, and she needed practice. What Clara particularly wanted my help with was the difference between - Would, Should and Could. I tried my best, but I don't think I did the greatest job. However, Clara got into the school, went to University in England, and is now working on a Law Degree there.

My favorite time with Clara was when she was 4-years old. It was a brutally cold snowy winter in France, especially in Alsace.  Clara, her Dad and I were taking a walk in the Black Forest, the land of Little Red Riding Hood and Hansel and Gretel. The forest was dark, grey, the pine trees blocking out whatever light there was and we could hear wolves in the distance, or was that the wind howling?  When told about the dangers meeting a wolf might present, Clara said, "Well, maybe he is just afraid. And maybe he is afraid because he doesn't know me.  So, if I introduce myself to him, then he won't be afraid."

I imagined - Je m'appelle Clara, to which the Wolf would give a low bow and the world would be righted.  And so, once again the innocence of youth leads us to a softer place.