The Saddest Thing I Own A collection of life's saddest objects, their sad stories, and our reasons for holding onto these sad things.

Leather Changepurse

Posted On Saturday April 29, 2006 By M

This is a leather changepurse made for me by friend Yaron. I met Yaron in Paris. He was a big and bald Israeli who gave me french lessons.

I remember after our french lessons we would walk all over Paris, sometimes late into the night. One night he told me that the reason he was bald was because he had Hodgkins Disease. He asked me if I knew what it was. I did. I had a friend in highschool die from it. He told me he would live.

He went away for two weeks and when he came back I called him. In that time he had fallen in love. When I asked him how long he had known her, he said “forever” When I said “no, really. how long since forever?” he said “two weeks since forever”.

He went into the hospital for intense chemotherapy. I remember taking three trains with two Israeli boys I knew from the house I was living in to see him. He was lying in a plastic tent. We had to wear gowns and robes and caps on our heads. I told him I had just gotten a new tattoo so I showed it to him.

We wrote and kept in touch for the next year. One day he sent me this changepurse. He had made it for me. In his note he said the cancer was gone and his hair was growing in, black and thick and curly. He was so happy.

We wrote. Then I didn’t hear from him for awhile. I eventually called and spoke to his wife. Yaron had died.

Tags: cancer, french, israel, lessons, paris

Other People's Thoughts

Share Your Thoughts

Yes, this process is moderated. Inappropriate posts will be disregarded. You must Preview and Submit your comment.

Name:		Remember
Message: