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Vienna, 13 June 1941

My children, dear Paul, and all of my dear ones!

On the 15 of July we are leaving with the Ciudad de Sevilla Europe by way of Lisbon. It would be appropriate for me to express our delight in a very exuberant way and to thank all of those who have helped us to achieve this in a very well written speech. But that doesn’t work today because of all the excitement (last week our departure was still very much in question) and the exhaustion – we are getting up about 4:15am and Papa often had to be at some office by 7am – so I am tired and I am no good for any mental work. I am just amazed at Vitali’s vitality! With him, it is a “nomen omen” [omen est nomen - the name is a sign]. But when we are out there on board the Seviglia, I will drink manzanilla with Carmen and dance the seguidilla out of delight that I will be with you soon. Our horses have been saddled and we’re just waiting for the shipper to pick up our things and take them to the Portuguese “stall.” He let you know yesterday by telegram about our order and we hope that the telegram came through without any difficulty. For this reason, we want to get an answer by telegram. We will, if everything goes well, leave a few days early for Lisbon, because the train trip in today’s current conditions will take about 5-7 days. We are thinking of leaving Vienna 8-10 days before our rowboat departs from Lisbon. What do you think about that? We are taking the de Seviglia. Lisette will be surprised when she hears about that. 

Today we really thought we would get our passports issued and while Papa is waiting in Prinz Eugenstrasse [the Turkish embassy] and taking care of the agenda items that are still missing. Then came a card which said that we would also need a certification from the Employment Office to certify that this office has no objection to our departure. One more day of delay, but that’s all right. We still have enough time, even if there are a few more things that stand in our way.

On the 15 of June, the Stubenring will not see us anymore except as visitors. Papa will never have such great work hours again as he has been able to arrange here. Which are from about 11am to 1pm and 5-6pm. I must admit that Papa has been very strict about the closing time. One minute after this time, he was already long gone. The miracle of the Stubenring. All the other shopkeepers admired him.

Our acacia trees on Kopalplatz are really blooming a lot and I can feel their fragrance when I stand by the window at night. Even if there is quiet above all tree tops, I feel their whisper.

Trrrrrrrrrrr [imitating a phone ringing] - it was Papa - he called me to let me know that he had taken care of the matter with the employment office and that I should be ready by 2pm to receive my passport. It all seems like a dream to me and I take care of business like a well-oiled machine. I have a feeling as one often does in a dream - when you dream something that you wish for but to still stay in touch with reality a little bit and say, “well, it is just a dream.” Dreams were my El Dorado in the last few weeks because through dreams I was with you. Soon, in order to speak with you I will not have to dream burlesques anymore.

It is time to finish making the food and I will have to get my ticket for the great big confusion which is known as “Vitali and Helene Cohen’s trip to heaven.” I am starting to reflect and to feel that I am awake and that I am not just some fool who is being duped by her wishes. I run around, I walk, I hurry to receive my happiness document. No matter what I do, the ship will not leave a moment earlier, but I will be cheering: “I have a passport, my own passport!” At night I will put it under my pillow and dream about you again.

On Monday, Papa will find out if he can take his work with him or not. Even in the most unfortunate case Papa promised me we will leave and we will leave his work behind, even though he really doesn’t want to. O n  T i m e! He has, as usual, been proven right. On time! Punctual! A nice word. Don’t you think so?

We are still being boycotted by the post and we haven’t received anything from you. You will have to make it up to me.

Kissssssssssses

Helen

A few observations:

In her greeting to her family, Helene acknowledges that her letters are being shared with all the relatives.

Helene alluded to their upcoming visit to Spain in the May 29 post.

Lisette was a young relative of Vitali’s (perhaps his niece) in Istanbul (see letter in May 11 post). Her last name was something like de Sevilla – I assume her mother’s married name.

I looked up Kopalplatz, which no longer exists. It is now known as Oskar-Kokoschka-Platz and was quite near Helene and Vitali’s shop on the Stubenring and about a half-mile from their home on Seidlgasse. I suppose it’s possible the fragrance of the acacias wafted that far on a summer night.

As is so often the case, Helene alludes to Goethe in this letter. When she writes of the acacia trees, she uses a pun to reference a Goethe poem  – über allen Gipfeln; Gipfel = mountaintop; Wipfel = treetop]. You can hear a version of Schubert’s version of the Goethe poem here.

As they prepare to leave and it is looking likely that they will succeed, ever more hurdles are put in their way: Vitali haunts the Turkish consulate daily, rules on what they are allowed to take with them change constantly, new bureaucratic requirements pop up to obstruct their progress.

There is one word in my grandmother’s letter that I had trouble finding a translation for: “Remasouri”. Roslyn translated it as confusion or mess, but I wanted to see if there was any other possible reference or translation. The only thing I could find with was “remasuri” which is the name of a German language card in the science fiction role-playing card deck “Magic: the Gathering.” Often the ideas and words in modern games come from classical references, so I’m guessing that the card name came from some arcane source. Given Vitali’s mystical and metaphysical profession and the tone of Helene’s letter — our two heroes on a years-long adventure with obstacles to overcome but appearing to be reaching the end of their quest — the cards with magic, wizards and dragons seemed absolutely appropriate.