February sings Valentines Day, hearts, and love. Ossining resident, Cora Silvestri, one of the Old Traditions, New Beginnings project collaborators, shares her love story and a song that feels like a hug.
“My late husband, Louis, and I were married for 56 years,” Cora tells River Journal. “We met at a college dance after he had returned from serving with the U.S. Army. We had three children together—one sadly passed away soon after birth—six grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.” Having been with him most of her life, Louis’s passing left a void in Cora’s world, but she knew he wouldn’t want her life without him to be about grief and sadness. She finds a reason to smile every day. Her welcoming personality and infectious optimism have touched many and that brings her the happiness she knows Louis wants for her. Although she has a full life and busy days with family, friends, and visits to the Ossining Senior Center, it still seems empty without Louis beside her. “We bowled, played tennis, went to the park, and hugged a lot. I miss that. I miss him.”
Cora played guitar in the 1970s and has been writing poems and songs since the loss of their child. In 2018, Louis bought her a ukulele after she saw one in a store and thought it was cute. She taught herself to play. About a year ago, during a day when nothing seemed to go right, Cora needed a hug. Longing to feel Louis’s arms around her, the words for a song came to mind. Usually writing a song takes time, the words require manipulation, and deliberation to convey feelings. But “the words to Fold Me in Your Wings flowed. I didn’t need to change a thing,” and a melody as strong as Louis and Cora’s love emerged. “The words felt like a hug from Heaven,” says Cora. When she played the ukulele and sang the song in the Cortlandt Town Hall, those attending the annual Senior Forum organized by Assemblywoman Dana Levenberg, gave her a standing ovation. “I was thrilled, but singing the song evokes both happiness and sadness.”
As Valentines Day approaches, Cora is grateful for the love of family and friends, but her heart will be with Louis on February 14. It always is. “It’s important to express our feelings to those we love,” and Cora continues to do just that every time she sings the words that Louis sent to her from Heaven on a day when she needed a hug.
FOLD ME IN YOUR WINGS
Chorus:
Take this bit of heaven
And wrap it all around me
Fold me in your wings
Hold me tight
Take this ray of sunshine
And shine it right upon me
It can keep me glowing
So very bright
Take the treasure of love
And pour it all over me
So I will feel the joy
Of staying happy
The beauty of our love
Will never fade away
It stays inside of me
Every minute, every day
(Repeat Chorus 2X)
To hear Cora perform Fold Me in Your Wings on YouTube: https://youtu.be/q6wRGKk3Shk
Old Traditions, New Beginnings is a compilation of stories 250-1000 words per submission from those 60 years and older. Those interested in contributing their own writing or volunteering to help others share their contributions are encouraged to email district95@nyassembly.gov.
