Remembrance

As you may have read earlier in this blog, a great gal named Cherylette passed away in early January. She was justly famous on the doll boards such as Prego for her creative photos and dioramas. Today, a good friend of hers posted on Prego that her partner Ingrid is in the process of selling Cheryl's dolls, props and diorama settings.

I am sure that Ingrid has about a million other things she would rather be doing, than going through Cheryl's things, and seeing what can be donated or sold. I remember those feelings well, after my father's death. It is hard to relate, to someone who has never suffered the loss of someone close to them, how it feels. "Awful" is such a paltry word for it, because you know you have to go through the things the loved one left behind, and yet, it is another devastating reminder that the person is gone - "Oh, I remember how much he loved wearing those ratty old slippers!"

The ratty old slippers are way too far gone to be donated to charity, where someone else might be able to get use out of them, and yet, they have to go. Little memories start going off in your head, of that loved one wearing their beloved, ratty old slippers. Seeing that loved one shamble out to the breakfast table in the morning, wearing those slippers, or protesting wildly that the slippers are fine, "I've been wearing these things for 20 years. If I got those new ones - and I HATE the color, by the way! - they wouldn't last 6 months. Cheap, useless modern day CRAP!" My dad was quite defensive where those slippers were concerned, let me tell you.

The message was left by the friend on Prego, and I contacted Ingrid. I frequently teased Cheryl that I wanted to become a dolly burglar, and steal all of her dolls, props and diorama sets. I also teased her that with my ten thumbs, I would have to steal her, too, so that she could maintain the great diorama scenes. Then, too, I would have to steal Ingrid, so that she would be kept happy as she took care of what were now "my" dolls, props and diorama sets.

However, since I do NOT have a great deal of money, I opted to ask after two things. One of them is in the following picture:

Photo by Cherylette

This was the photo that started a LOT of tongues wagging - with laughter. It was Arbor Day, or something like that, and Cheryl wanted a picture of her Rabbis planting a tree. As she took the picture, Basil, the doll on the far left shifted position. She didn't notice anything untoward, until another Prego regular named Helene said that he looked as though he were about to skewer the other fellow, and called him a "Killer Rabbi."

Of course, me, being a smart alec, and also knowing a small handful of Hebrew words, said, "No, no, he's the Meshugganah Avenger!"

Cheryl laughed herself silly, and shortly afterwards, managed to acquire a scale chainsaw. From time to time, she would post pictures of Basil holding the chainsaw, and getting into all sorts of adventures as the Meshugganah Avenger. It also became the butt of many jokes, when he was shown with his family, or the other Rabbi characters, that he would be missing his chainsaw, because his wife would hide it from him. "Basil, I hid the chainsaw because I just put the baby down for a nap." or "Put that chainsaw to good use for a change and cut the bread for the feast."

I hope the chainsaw can be found, because I would hate to break up such a great double act. I have made up my mind that if I can get hold of Basil and his chainsaw, or even if all I get is Basil himself, that he will hold an honored place in my collection, in memory of Cheryl.

Ingrid says that she has really enjoyed the stories people who are contacting her are telling her about the items they are asking about.