Henry Blumberg

Memories RekindledThe pocket knife given to the author by his father seventy-five years ago rekindles memories of significant events and links the present with the past. During three years of pandemic lockdown, he rediscovers in his home numerous artifacts collected over a span of more than eight decades, which provide him with new perspectives on his life. His journey commences during World War II as a ten-year-old in an Afrikaner village in rural South Africa, where the fear of fascism is palpable. From his teenage years he witnesses the oppression and gross injustice of legislated Apartheid. He becomes a student leader and activist while studying law and working full-time to support himself. On qualifying he practises law and develops real estate, despite challenging economic times. After facing an earnest internal debate about leaving his homeland, relatives, and friends, he immigrates as a family of six to Canada in 1980. He overcomes the multiple hurdles of requalifying and the challenge of opening a law firm in downtown Toronto. The uncertainties of living during lockdown are interwoven with diverse memories, inspired by his numerous treasured objects. While the norms of civilization and democracy appear to be crumbling, the author endeavours to reconcile the present turbulence and the legacy he will leave for his grandchildren.

Striving for SolaceThis memoir describes the route our family travelled through grief and loss towards healing after our youngest son, Sean, took his life in 2012. He was 35 years old and had struggled for many years with depression and paranoia. Through my passage of introspection, during bereavement, I needed to confront my own vulnerability and reach into formerly unacknowledged emotional depths. I realized that death and loss can wound each of us in many ways, unrelated to mental health, especially as millions now grieve the passing of family and friends during the Covid-19 pandemic.I hope that our family's decade of striving for solace might provide a beacon of hope to others to steer through their own darkness. Many reminiscences, including joyous and unforgettable moments, later enabled us to cope with the anguish of our son's suicide. Memories were a central underpinning of support at the most difficult times. Guided by my son's questions and curiosity the memoir spans three continents. It reflects my keen interest in our memorable family visit to South Africa, his birthplace, and the brutality of apartheid that resulted in our immigration to Canada. The memoir also explores the intergenerational trauma of my father whose close family perished in Latvia during the Holocaust. Hopefully lessons learnt in our journey towards acceptance might alleviate the suffering of others and lead to inner peace.

A Family Saga: Striving For SolaceThis memoir describes our family's journey through grief towards healing after our youngest son, Sean, took his life in 2012. He was 35 years old and had struggled for many years with depression and paranoia.Many reminiscences, including joyous and unforgettable moments, later enabled us to cope with the anguish of his death. Memories were a central underpinning of support at the most difficult times. Guided by my son's questions and curiosity the memoir spans three continents. It reflects his keen interest in our memorable family visit to South Africa, his birthplace, the brutality of apartheid that resulted in our immigration to Canada and the family's challenges that ensued. The memoir also explores the intergenerational trauma of my father whose close family perished in Latvia during the Holocaust.Through my passage of introspection, during bereavement, I confronted my own vulnerability and reached into my formerly unacknowledged emotional depths. I realized that death and loss can wound each of us in many ways, unrelated to mental health, especially as millions now grieve the passing of family and friends during the Covid-19 pandemic.I hope that our family's decade of lessons learnt and striving for solace might provide a beacon of hope to others to steer through their own darkness to inner peace, lead to acceptance, and help to alleviate the suffering of others.