This is me on the 1st May demonstration. I’m holding my daughter Greta in my arms. The picture was taken in Kishinev in the early 1960s.
In December 1957 I was given a ten-day leave from my army service and flew to Kishinev. Lyalia insisted that we get married immediately, and I couldn't break my promise. I wasn't ready to get married, but I couldn't go back on my word. On the frosty day of 4th December, we went to the state marriage registration office. I wasn't in winter uniform and Lyalia wasn't in a warm coat. We didn't have a wedding party. I was demobilized in February 1958. I came back to Kishinev. We settled in the eleven-meter room of my mother-in-law.
On 3rd December 1958 our daughter Greta was born. When I got home I had to wash and iron the swaddles, get up and comfort my daughter when she was crying at night. When my wife was sitting her exams in Moscow, I took care of Greta. We were pretty indigent and hardly had any furniture and clothes. When I went to see my mother, she gave me some pocket money and it made me feel ashamed.
Years went by. Greta went to a nursery school, kindergarten, then to school. I was getting more and more promotions and gradually became the deputy director of the knitting factory. I earned more money and it was enough to buy the things we needed and go to the sea resorts with my daughter. I also was a member of the Party, the secretary of the party organization. This is why our family didn't consider the idea of leaving for Israel.
