This is a continuation of the book "Un leu, un leu...", which was written in Romania by my late godfather and uncle Bill Edwards, and published by Evenimentul, a now defunct Romanian publishing company. The book is being released for the first time in English exclusively online here on Steemit, as a serial. I hope you enjoy his writings as much as I do!
- Rob
The Cultural Attache during the last two years of my stay in Bucharest was a very cultivated and highly educated gentleman by the name of Ernest Latham. He arrived in Romania in September of 1983, and lo and behold, he was accompanied by his highly intelligent and sweet, four year old daughter, Charlotte. Ernest and I soon became very close friends and remain so to this day, having vastly dissimilar, yet in many ways extremely similar backgrounds.
In the course of our many long and rambling conversations during our overlapping tours in Bucharest, we learned that we were born within eleven days of each other in the same year, graduated from college the same year, were commissioned as reserve officers the same year — he in the U.S. Coast Guard, and I in the U.S. Air Force. Many of our interests were the same and we held similar political and philosophical views. He was from the North of the U.S. — New England — and I from the Deep South — Florida.
After I left Romania, Ernest even earned a Ph.D. at Bucharest University. Our interests in and liking, nay, love of Romania, its people, and things Romanian, manifest themselves in many ways. We love Romanian food and drink (at any time in both of our homes in the Washington, DC area, one can find the odd bottle of tuica or the wonderful wines of Romania which are exported to the U.S. under the Premiate label), and we both have passions for Romanian history and art. Many of the Romanian artifacts and memorabilia which decorate our homes were acquired from consignatiaii in Romania — mainly the consignatia in the Hanul Cu Tai area of Bucharest.
On many days during our lunch hours at the embassy we would make mad dashes to the consignatia to see what was there available for sale to us. And often on Saturdays, which passed as one of our days off, after a round of the inevitable official receptions Friday evenings (usually two or three), we would attempt a more leisurely amble through the consignatia, inevitably with Charlotte between the two of us.
What a sight it was, winter, spring, summer or fall, these two American diplomats, one white the other block, each holding a hand of this angelic child, who in due course, learned to speak exceptional Romanian. We later learned that many Romanians all around town, the consignatia, and and the Lipscani would remark on this unique "troika" including the beautiful little blond child who spoke such wonderful Romanian. On most occasions when her father and I shopped with Charlotte along, the storekeepers, with that wonderful and special, tender way Romanians and other people in Eastern Europe seem to have in dealing with children, would talk with her and give her little favors while her father and I browsed interminably.
One of these Saturdays, I recall it was a typical Bucharestian winter day, Ernest and the young Charlotte came by my apartment. Her father and I had intentions of visiting the consignatia after lunch, staying there until it closed around 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Charlotte, precocious child, having gone through this drill many times, sat with us through lunch, and when we finished and were preparing to leave, she quite innocently and curiously asked as only a child can, "Daddy, where are we going?" ernest began with, "Your Uncle Bill and I want to look at a few things down at the con..." and before he could finish the statement, she said very loudly, "Oh, no, not the consignatia again," stating emphatically "enough was enough." We both were so shocked by this statement, that we sat there and drank the remnants of several bottles of champagne from the night before rationalizing that champagne that has gone flat from the night before is, after all, only still wine. And it goes without saying, that day we didn't go to the consignatia.
When Ernest now visits me with her beautiful adolescent daughter, and we speak wistfully of our days together in Bucharest, invariably we say at a point, "Champagne from the night before is only still wine," and we embarass and cause Charlotte to blush when we yell together,
"Oh, no! Not the consignatia!!"
Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this story, please tell me what you thought of it in the comments below. Also, be sure to read the rest of Bill's works that are being published exclusively here on Steemit:
- Chapter I: Four Corners
- Chapter II: The Man of a Thousand Faces: Domnul Lefter, The Painter
- Chapter III: Cat Food in Romania
- Chapter IV: My Story About the First American in my Family
- Chapter V: A Pot of Rice
- Chapter VI: Same time, Same place, next Christmas
- Chapter XII: A Tale of Two Rings
Thank you for sharing robrigo, it brings me back a few years when I visited Romania. Actually we took a 2 weeks road trip in the country and were absolutely loving it!
I can definitely see why Ernest is mentioning nativism. Romania is made up of several "tribes" if one can say that. That was at least my experience. We once lived in a little village in Transylvania which had been a village populated by German immigrants (Saxons), but when Ceaușescu kicked them out the village was then repopulated by Romanians and Romas. Today 90% of them were Romas.
People were really friendly and one evening I was invited home to one of them for a little party. I most definitely got acquainted with Tuica! Although I enjoyed it at the time, this exact night saturated my Tuica cravings.. I was hung over for 3 days
@ronni
It is great to have another excerpt from your late godfather's book.
We haven't had one for a while so I guess this is our little treat for this week :)
It is great to see the strong relationship your godfather and Ernest had. So many similarities and things that conveniently happened in the same year as if they were in each others presence and didn't even realise haha. Their love for each other was so natural and true and the fit was perfect.
Charlotte looks absolutely adorable in that picture!
I've never been to Romania before so I don't know what the monuments and wine are like but from his account, it sounds like something exceptional, spectacular and something worth seeing.
Thank you for this exclusive share @robrigo
You're welcome @arckrai!
Hi, I read everything, really good!!
your late godfather must be proud of you :)
Needs more Dr. Funderburk :)
Hahaha. Dr. Funderburk, Private I.
oh no looks like i missed all the part's need to catch up previous parts
I will search for chapter 1 to start with. Great blog you got here!
Can agree what everyone else are saying. We do appreciate you job and that your are continue sharing with us this wonderful book.
Always great to read high quality articles.
Lookin to read next ones, respect.
Wonderful share of the article @robrigo! I wish I could visit Romania once in the future!
Great blog @robrigo. Very enjoyable to read with cool photos and videos, making the whole story even more interesting.
I plan to read the other chapters soon.
Upvoted and resteemed your awesome article @robrigo!
I think there must be some other parts to read.
Thanks for sharing this I like it
really very good. @ robrigo
Upvoted & RESTEEMED! :)
Yeah ,everyone should be proud of you. 😉
I reached here a little late, need to find the previous parts first. And i will 🤘
Wow, it's so interesting to read! Thanks for sharing this high quality article with us robrigo!
It is so great to read. I am searching for more to read. Your godfather must be proud of you @robrigo!
Thanks you so much @robrigo for sharing such amazing articles to read. There are many chapters to enjoy :D Will spend time reading them.
Great story @robrigo! I read till the end then found that you also put the links to other chapters. That's great. I will start from Chapter I.
Thanks you for your effort!
Nice article. I upvoted and resteemed this so other people will also find and read your interesting post.
There are 7 more chapters to enjoy :D
Wonderful story! It made my day reading this! I going to the remaining chapters this weekend, but it should be started from chapter 1.
Thank @robrigo you for your hard work of writing this and share on Steemit. Love reading all of them.
I upvoted and resteemed.