“In the Family Business”

            As he sat on his deathbed on life support, we all stared and wondered how long he had left. Our family had come from Buffalo, Bermuda, and nearby Forest Hills to spend his final days together in the small Bayside townhouse. The house was familiar to all of us, as we had spent holidays and celebrations together in that living room, but this was not such a joyous occasion. The small glass coffee table lacked its usual hors d'oeuvres. The classy music of Frank Sinatra did not fill the room with a lively ambiance. He sat in his worn-down chair, without his tall posture but instead slouching, his usually full head of elegant gray hair was instead dull and unkept. When he had gained enough energy to speak, the room fell silent. He called me over by his side, whispered something to my grandmother, and waited for her to retrieve a small wooden box from the top shelf of the hallway closet. He opened it, and handed me a collection of shiny bronze medals. Not understanding their importance at age seven, I thanked him and handed them to my mother for her to put them away. Not much later, my father, sister, and I boarded our gray Toyota Camry and departed for home. That was the last time I ever saw my grandfather.

            As a child, Grandpa had suffered along with the rest of the nation through the Great Depression. Destitute and hungry, he would wander into bars and restaurants, not to order food, but to pour a small amount of ketchup on a napkin. This concoction would often serve as a meal. During this time of poverty, tensions began to arise overseas and it appeared that war was inevitable. Grandpa was forced to consider joining the armed forces. He enlisted as a merchant marine and began his training at Kings Point Merchant Marine Academy.  He would soon be on the high seas transporting supplies, ammunition, and men to Europe. Because of their value to the war effort, Merchant Marine ships were often a target of enemy fire. On a voyage across the Atlantic to deliver supplies, Grandpa’s ship was torpedoed by a German U-Boat, killing many of the men on his ship and forcing him to survive on a lifeboat for weeks before finally being rescued. The adversity he faced in his life would have caused many to become discouraged, but Grandpa continued to retain his optimistic goals.

            Following World War II, Grandpa met my grandmother, Audrey Marks. From a wealthy family that owned over one-hundred New York City Taxi Cabs, the two were not a likely couple; however Grandpa’s ambition persuaded her into believing in him and loving him. Against their will, Grandma’s parents agreed to give Grandpa a loan for him to begin a business. He used the money to purchase real estate in an up and coming neighborhood in Queens. Through clever negotiations and pragmatic decisions, he was soon able to pay off the borrowed sum and expand his small investment into a profitable business.

            Silverstein Equities has since become a leading realtor in Forest. The family business had been established and a career opportunity had been laid out for future generations. The requirements for the job are small and one would not even need a college degree to earn a sufficient salary. Instead, I view these foundations solely as a high rung on the proverbial endless ladder of success. Through a college education and a business school degree, I hope to maximize my chances for not only successfully running the family business, but expanding it into a legitimate enterprise. I strive not for mediocrity, but for excellence and I am able to view my grandfather’s achievements in the face of adversity as proof that I too can succeed.

            As I sit on my bed with his medals in my hand, I wonder what the future holds for me. The bronze of the medals is now dull and under a light coat of dust, but I am now able to comprehend their value. Medals are awarded to those who do something great in the military, and Grandpa had certainly met that criteria. To those who succeed in life however, no medals are awarded. There is no holiday to commemorate their sacrifice. Instead it is their legacy left with their family that proves their greatness. In my family, Grandpa has left his legacy in his business, and I too hope to have my greatness preserved in the family business.