From father to son to granddaughter: A Father's Day gift closes a circle of life
My father didn't wear very much jewelry. He had a watch, a ring and a neckless with a silver chai. He wasn't particularly religious but maybe the chai reminded him of his Jewish roots—maybe.
I also loved his chai. I'm also not very religious, but there was something in it that appealed to me. I let him know my feelings about it and his response was it was mine after he died.
On April 26, 1982 my father died. The one item of his that I received after his death was his chai. It was small and made of silver. Not pretentious or ostentatious. But what I loved about it the most was that it was my dad’s.
I wore the chai for about two decades after his death. I slept and showered with it on. It never left my body—or my heart.
About twenty years ago, I was on a family outing. When it ended I noticed that the chai was gone. The chain must have broke and I didn't notice it until it was too late. We looked around the area for it but couldn't find it.
It was painful losing it—not because of the chai itself, but because of it meant to me. A piece of my father—my last physical piece was gone.
I've often thought about replacing the chai. I've looked at Amazon and other online sites. I've found suitable replacements but never pulled the trigger on buying another one. Those chai’s would only be a piece of jewelry. It wouldn't have meant the same as the original—not even close.
Recently, I've noticed that my oldest daughter has been wearing a chai. It’s silver and a bit smaller than the one I had. I've complimented her on it a few times.
Yesterday, I had Father’s Day brunch with her. She took out the holiday card and I joked that there was another restaurant gift card in it because I’ve received a few lately. But inside the card was the chai you see in the above photo.
I've been thinking about her present all day. I've received much more expensive presents but never had one that moved me or made me as emotional as this one.
Although my daughter never knew her grandfather, she knew the story of the lost chai. The word chai is Hebrew for life. Her gift did close this circle of life— from father to son to granddaughter. On Father's Day, I can't think of anything better.
CHAI!! To Life!!