What most amazed me about Teddi is how much more stoic she was than those of us who are decades her junior. She never complained. In fact, she wore the rest of us out. But I understand the source of her strength. She was, as Tom Brokaw would come to say, part of the "Greatest Generation." She gave birth to her son Barry while Sam was away in the Second World War. She fended for herself with dignity and strength. Barry was twelve months old the first time he saw his father.
For those who don't understand why I know so many details about Teddi - the answer is simple. I read the bible - the Teddi bible - or - 'the book of Teddi', which in reality is Teddi's autobiography, "Chit Chat This 'n That."
Now it's not my inclination to be hocking Teddi's book, but if you want to know the heart and depth of one of the greatest women I have ever known, you have to read Teddi's book. If you want to know how a woman can go from being a millinery worker at thirteen to owning a home on Rodeo Drive, you have to read this book. If you want to understand how a woman can know EVERYTHING about owning and operating a multi-million dollar business, you have to read this book. If you want to understand how a woman who never went to college self-educated herself to grasp the innermost workings of the stock market, you must read this book. If you want to understand the depth of undying love and devotion to a spouse, read this book. If you want to understand how deeply a parent loves her children, read it. How much she'll do for her grandchildren, read it. How she weathers great tragedy with dignity and grace, read it. How one lives with endless enthusiasm, read it.
If you want to see how Teddi and Sam Winograd dedicated their entire lives to the cause of peace, read it and you will understand why the door to Teddi's home was always open to anyone with a commitment to bettering our world.
And if you want to laugh out loud till you come close to crying, please read this book. In fact, I love this book so much I took it to where I teach and read it in the parking lot with my colleagues. The language is pure Teddi. The expressions the gems of the 40's and 50's. The insight is the stuff of genius.
In my home, I have volumes of unread nonfiction books by renowned authors whose facts and analyses are meant to dazzle and enrich me. Eventually I will read them. But I keep re-reading my Teddi book instead. Nearly 500 pages of the most honest book I believe I have ever read. And by far the funniest.
Here are two samplings from Chit Chat This 'n That." The first describes Sam and Teddi's first evening together. It was after seeing each other at a CCNY basketball game at Madison Square Garden. They had NEVER had a previous date or a real conversation prior to this night:
(Page 78) Sam and Teddi's first date:
"Sam arrived at two o'clock in the morning on February 3, 1943. It was snowing hard and he was covered with snowflakes. I thought he looked like a Greek God! Sam bent down as if to kiss me-- then he thought better of it. I guess he didn't want to seem presumptuous -- too soon. We sat on the couch in the lobby. To impress him I brought him a dish of fruit. Then we proceeded to exchange our life histories. An hour later, Sam asked if I could learn to live on a school teacher's salary. I knew I was really in love when I didn't ask how much it was -- it didn't matter! We planned to be married on March 7, 1943 - one month later."
Now, that's love!
(Page 271) The Vietnam War:
"Barry was a student at Berkeley in the late 60's. It was only natural since he was violently opposed to the war in Vietnam to be in the forefront of the anti-war movement. It did not help that Governor Ronald Reagan imposed strict curfews forcing college students attending the University to be off the streets by ten o'clock at night. Additionally, the students were not allowed to congregate with more than three people at a time. None of these onerous regulations stopped the student protests that culminated in 1969 with a huge demonstration. Reagan's answer to this protest was to send in the National Guard.
Several nights later Sam and I were frightened while we were watching TV, and we saw what was happening. The National Guard was firing live bullets as warning shots. We watched in horror as the National Guardsmen shot and killed a protester, Joe Rector. I turned to Sambo and I said, "Look Dear, Joe is not even armed. He's apparently trying to get out of the line of fire." Then I started to cry when I saw Joe's body fall to the ground and there was no movement. Sam put his arms around me to reassure me by saying, "Teddi dear, it's too late now. There are no flights out of LAX. I'll take the first plane in the morning. I'll wear my most conservative clothes and march with Barry. I'll wear a navy suit with a vest, a long overcoat and gray suede gloves. I want everyone at the University to know although I look like the establishment, I am in total agreement with my son. I want peace, too." I turned to Sam and said, "I think that's a great idea, dear. I am relieved that you are going to be at Barry's side. Even though he told you yesterday that it wasn't necessary for you to come, I'm sure he will have a change of heart when he sees you."
The next day Sam told me that after he met Barry at Berkeley our son said, "Dad, it's more dangerous today than yesterday because there are more National Guardsmen spraying the students with tear gas. In order to protect ourselves you'll have to follow me into the University buildings. Then we will be out of the range of fire. It will also lessen the effects of the tear gas." Barry had a change of heart. He was pleased by Sam's visit and support. I was, too. While the protests continued, many of our friends whose children were students at Berkeley became increasingly upset but they didn't know what to do about the situtation...
As soon as Sambo returned, he called a meeting in our Lodge to report exactly what had happened during his visit to Berkeley. Sam said, "I think it's very important for the Powers That Be at the University to know that our children are not an unruly mob. They are students with a total commitment to end the war in Vietnam...
Before the meeting was over all the parents voted to go to the Berkeley campus and have a mass protest of their own. We made up a banner that said in large print, "WE ARE THE CONCERNED PARENTS OF BERKELEY STUDENTS--WE WANT THE WAR TO END NOW!
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