Chapter 50, Eternity Beckons: January 1 – 2, 2067
A/N You may want to have the tissues for this chapter...
Savannah, Katie, Beth, Rivka and I brought over most of the food for Abba and Ima's fiftieth anniversary party on New Year's Eve. The same group as Christmas day plus Clayton and Ellie, Jared and Tori, Nick and Allison and two of their children were coming for the big party. Anthony had been able to borrow chairs and tables from the studio and he, John, Charles, Chaim and LJ made an extended dining table that would seat all of us at one long table.
Anthony had two of his crew, a videographer and a still photographer, coming to be the official camera crew for the party, so that Anthony (III), Anthony (IV) and Uncle Tim could be free to enjoy the party. We put up the decorations on New Year's Eve as well.
By 1800, everything was set for the party, and we all said good night to Ima and Abba. Every one of us hugged both Ima and Abba, even Charles, who usually preferred to shake hands. I was the last one out and kissed both Ima and Abba on the cheek, "I'll see you around 1000 tomorrow. Good night, Ima. Good night, Abba."
~TIVA~
For the second time in eight days, we all gathered at Ima and Abba's house to celebrate love, family, and friendship. Anthony had set up the documentary and follow up interview to play continuously on the family room TV. In the living room, two slide shows of the life journey of Ima and Abba played, chronicling their love story over its sixty one plus years together and their fifty years of marriage.
Ima and Abba were treated like royalty, with us kids, or our kids making sure neither of them wanted for anything. Pictures of everyone with the couple of honor where taken with the family tree hanging as a background. Anthony, Rivka, Beth, LJ and I tried to recreate memorable pictures from days gone by, by duplicating the poses. We posed for the one of Ima and Abba kissing with all of us looking at them, before Abba's sixtieth birthday party. We tried to duplicate a family favorite with Ima and Abba seated on a sofa at Grandpa Gibbs' house, Anthony and I on the floor by their feet, Beth and Rivka on either side of Abba with his arms wrapped around them, and LJ in Ima's lap, sound asleep. How we were going to get six foot four LJ on Ima's lap had us all laughing, and many awesome candid shots were made while we were trying to figure it out. LJ ended up sitting on the arm of the sofa and leaning back so his head was against Ima's shoulder.
"Thank you all for making this day special; we love you all." Abba didn't say as much as usual. He turned to Ima, "Ziva, we made it to fifty years! Ani ohev otach." He kissed her.
"Thank you everyone for a wonderful day. Love is what makes a family strong. We love you all." Ima turned to Abba, "Tony, sixty one years and three months, and a few days; that is how long we have known each other. Ani ohevet otcha." Ima pulled Abba to her and put her lips on his. Their eyes met and the rest of us watched their "TIVA-land" kick in.
Uncle Tim spoke up, "There is and always has been something special about the relationship between my two best friends, my brother and sister of the heart. We are family. I love you both." Ima and Abba had heard Uncle Tim, but they continued looking into each other's eyes.
"Thanks, Tim. We love you, brother of the heart." The two spoke as one.
~TIVA~
Around 2100, Chaim and I finished the last of the clean-up chores. Ima and Abba were cuddled on the love seat watching the raw video from the day. We said good night to them. Chaim told them not to get up; we would lock up on the way out with our own key. I reminded them that I would be by the house in the morning to get my dishes and pans from the dishwasher; probably around 0930.
Ima and Abba went to their bedroom and settled in for the night.
~TIVA~
I arrived at the house at 0942, and used my key to open the front door. I called out a greeting to Ima and Abba, but heard no response. I checked the family room to see if they had fallen asleep on the love seat, but no sign of them.
In the kitchen, there was no sign that they had eaten breakfast. I took a deep breath, fearing what I was about to find, and yet, also at peace. I opened their bedroom door, and saw them in their bed.
Both were on their sides, facing each other in the center of the bed. (I had always wondered why they had a king sized bed when the two of them almost always slept in the center, taking up only part of the bed. Anthony's theory was that they wanted room for us kids when we were little.) Their foreheads were touching and each had the upper side arm wrapped around the other. From what I could see, they had their legs intertwined. Their lower hands were under the other's cheek, so that each was resting on the hand of the other.
As tears formed in my eyes, I walked over to my parents. I checked each for a pulse and breathing, knowing what I would find. My tears spilled over as I stood up and moved out to the hallway. Somehow I knew that I could not make the calls that needed to be made from their room.
My hands shook as I called Chaim. "Love, they're gone. In their sleep, overnight." I managed to get through the basic info before I broke into sobs. Chaim promised to call our children on his way over to Ima and Abba's house.
I called Anthony next. He had barely managed to say "Hey, Tals," when I started sobbing again. "Anthony, they're gone…"was all I could manage. "On my way, sis. Love you."
Somehow I managed to call Beth, Rivka and LJ and all three headed to the house of our childhood. Chaim arrived just as I finished talking with LJ. He wrapped his arms around me and I sobbed on his shoulder. "I reached all of the kids." He spoke softly and rubbed his hand on my back.
Anthony came in the door and broke down as he and I met gazes. I went over to my brother and we cried as we hugged each other. Chaim had moved to the family room to call Charles about the arrangements.
Beth arrived next, followed by Rivka and LJ, who had come to the house together. While none of us are particularly religious, it felt right to say the prayers of our parents' origins. The five of us joined hands, and as one recited the Hebrew blessing we had learned from Ima, "Barukh atah Adonai Eloheinu melekh ha'olam, dayan ha-emet. Blessed are You, Lord, our G-d, King of the universe, the Judge of Truth," followed by the Catholic prayer for the newly deceased we had learned from Abba. "Saints of God, come to their aid! Come to meet them, angels of the Lord! Receive their souls and present them to God, the Most High. May Christ, who called you, take you to himself; may angels lead you to Abraham's side. Receive their souls and present them to God, the Most High. Give them eternal rest, O Lord, and may your light shine on them forever."
Each of us leaned into the circle we had formed, heads touching. Chaim later told me that when the five of us were standing there, praying, he saw a light above us that shimmered and rose upward.
The rest of the day is a huge blur. I know I did what needed to be done on autopilot. Chaim, my wonderful husband and my soul mate, made sure the bodies were taken to Slater's and that the wishes of Ima and Abba were followed. He and Charles reviewed the arrangements with the assistant manager, who then told them to go be with their family.
At some point, Katie brought Uncle Tim, who stayed with us for the rest of the day. Family members came and left at the DiNozzo house, and we all mourned.
I sat with Uncle Tim for a while, and he and I hugged and cried together. I think each of the five of us sat with him some time during the day.
~TIVA~
John and Katie brought in dinner for those of us still at the house. We each thanked them multiple times, but their response was the same, "Family takes care of each other. You all were there for us; now we are here for you."
Anthony, Beth, Rivka, LJ and I reminisced, hugged, cried, and sought comfort from each other and our spouses, and Uncle Tim. Sometime during the evening, we started looking through pictures and videos. We all agreed the picture of Ima and Abba looking into each other's eyes and lost in "TIVA-land" was perfect for the service bulletin and for display at Slater's. We each also picked our own personal favorites for a slide show tribute. I picked one of Ima and Abba with me, in Paris, not long after the first Christmas we were all together, but before Anthony was born. Ima was obviously pregnant, and both Abba and I had goofy grins. The one of Ima and Abba with a newborn Levi was another that I chose.
If I looked at the slide show that was put together, I could tell you who picked each photo or video clip, but to this day, I cannot remember any of the others than the three mentioned above, without looking at the slides.
~TIVA~
During the night of 2 January to 3 January, all of us slept or tried to sleep, but not a one of the five of us left the house. Chaim brought me a change of clothes, and the dress I had chosen to wear to the visitation and service. Katie brought Anthony's suit, and breakfast for all of us, and then took Uncle Tim to his apartment to get ready for the service. John arrived with Rivka's dress and two trays of finger foods. Charles moved between Slater's and Ima and Abba's house, Chaim sometimes accompanying him. Savannah brought LJ's suit and sandwich trays.