Full Circle

From “Chapter III: High School”

And so, with that as background, the musicians began the Sinfonia Concertante for Violin and Viola in E flat Major, with its majestic first movement and long (approximately two-minute) orchestral introduction. The presentation moved on through the three movements—the second, a slow movement, and the third, as promised, a spirited romp in which the violinist and violist chased each other into the higher reaches of their instruments. The audience of thousands was absolutely silent between movements; not a sound could be heard at these times. It was as if everyone in the audience were holding his or her breath. Teddy could hear the perfection in Lissa’s and his playing—the precise intonation, the absolutely perfect synchronization with the orchestra. It was nothing less than everything he knew Solly wanted—no, prayed—it would be!

When the last notes had died away, the audience burst into thunderous applause, a standing ovation almost deafening in its intensity! It lasted several minutes, and every time Teddy and Lissa turned to take their seats, it intensified even more, only to bring them reluctantly back to the podium. Graciously, they gestured to the conductor, who bowed deeply, and motioned for the entire orchestra to stand. Nothing, however, seemed to bring silence to the hall until the audience, exhausted, fell back into their seats. Tears streamed down Solly’s face.

From “Chapter IV: College, the Army, and New Love”

“You’re not going to believe this,” confided Harvey [W2IYX (SK)] another night out of the blue, after Susan had gone to bed, “but after the outbreak of World War II, I was offered an Army commission by the Office of the Chief Signal Officer, U.S. Army, in Washington, DC. Shortly thereafter, I was ordered by my boss, General Stoner, the Chief Signal Officer, on a highly classified mission to Gander Lake, Newfoundland. There, I boarded a U.S. Navy tugboat that steamed out to sea, where we came alongside a U.S. Navy cruiser. Once aboard, I was escorted to the Officer’s Wardroom, where my boss, among others, was waiting.” Harvey’s voice now was almost a whisper, as if he were telling state secrets. “There, seated at the head of a big table, was President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Seated next to him was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Winston Churchill. In fact, all of the heads of state of the Allied countries were there!

“The meeting concerned the German submarine menace to our North Atlantic convoys and, specifically, how to combat it. For almost two hours the Allied representatives considered proposal after proposal on how to counteract the increasing loss of men and ships. I got impatient, so I leaned over my boss’ shoulder and asked him how much more of this jabber we had to listen to,” said Harvey. “Stoner turned around and looked at me like I was nuts; then, he asked if I had a solution. I whispered, ‘Yes’.”