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"Memories of 1996" October 16, 2002
by Ray “Rajko” Ranic

It was a sunny bright day in August of 1996 and I was preparing to perform for the Lodge Picnic held annually in East Aurora, New York. For more than 30 years of my life I had been a tamburash and the last five of these years as a member of Tillie Klaich’s Balkan Serenaders. I had that nervous feeling in the pit of my stomach as I always do whenever I get ready to play. My brac and prim were tuned and I was set to begin at a moment’s notice.

This day was going to be different. So much was in the atmosphere-from people attending-to the costumed dancers and tamburitza groups performing-to the smiles of hard working men and women that greeted me. The wonderful smells of hamburgers, hot dogs, sarma and the scent of roast lamb were working its way through every corner of the pavilion. Yet...something was happening and I was at the center of it all.

I drank in each moment of the day-savoring every part of it-the music, the camaraderie of musicians, the good food, the fellowship and the relaxed atmosphere. I met my younger brother Bob “Bozhi” as he is known to family and friends and we discussed our playing schedules. Bozhi had also played tamburitza cello for 25 years at the time. He was nervous and I knew it. It had been eleven years since we played together and this was one of those rare times we got to play for the same event. Still, there was more going on-as if a part of a play on a stage were being acted out...and we were the players. It was going to be an interesting day...and how it would turn out...I had no idea.
As time went by and the performers finished their programs, it was our turn to entertain. As luck would have it we began our set and had almost finished when we received a request for a song...Zora Je.

My eyes kept searching the crowd. We had finished the introduction and began to sing when it happened. As I sang Zora Je-I saw my two sisters whom I haven’t seen since 1957 as a four year old boy-forty years ago, walk into the pavilion as those two words were sung. I saw them meet giving their first hug and kiss to my brother-our brother Bozhi. The three of them just stood there together-arms around each other, meeting for the first time in their lives and in the shadow of the music I was playing with my fellow tamburashi. I knew that our two sisters would be there.

I had just found them a short time earlier. Bozhi had not met them yet. They had traveled 40 years from 1957 to 1996 just to watch their two brothers play for the first time ever at this picnic. As we sang Zora Je “the sun is shining” through my tear filled eyes and a tear stained face (mercifully covered by my sunglasses) I sang Zora Je...through a throat aching and sore from the emotion of the moment...I wretched agonizingly through every verse of the song choking my words out as I watched the loving embrace of two sisters and a brother together...forever. No more separation.

After we finished our song, I left the stage to make my greetings to Barbara and Karen and with Bozhi-we began to share our lives together with our sisters and with the community of friends and family that were present.
For the next 5 hours lines were gathered at the tables to meet, greet and get a glimpse of our two sisters...the two hearts...the two souls that we had back in our lives. A steady stream of well wishers and loving friends and family of Serbian, Croatian, Hungarian, Irish, and every nationality stepped forward to say hello and wish us well.

I remember this precious moment in time from 1996-like it was just yesterday-and other defining moments like March 8, 1998, a Sunday morning like any other...except the day before there was a picture in the Buffalo News with me hugging my sister...the last of 15 siblings that had just been located outside of Buffalo. My search was over-all 15 siblings that were separated in 1957 (40 years ago) were found and reunited...forever. On that Sunday, March 8, 1998, Bozhi and I made our way up the steps of St. Stephen’s Church in Lackawanna and gave our thanks... to God.

I had some help along the way. Angels in many forms like The Buffalo News, the Erie County Dept. of Social Services Commissioner Deborah Merrifield, Surrogate Judge Joseph S. Mattina and Alex Machaskee and the staff of The Plain Dealer in Ohio. It is beyond my comprehension. The miracle of the City of Buffalo and the hearts of people in Ohio were just the beginning leading to much more than I could begin to write now..and that is another story.
It was that moment in time captured in 1996 that introduced our family and story to the Serbian Community and more. I can never, ever, sing Zora Je and not be moved by the loving memories that come to life in its gentle melody. The memories are etched and seared into my mind, heart, and soul. It is only fitting and proper to say as I write this as the storyteller that in my world-faith and miracles do exist and as for “fairy tales” Why not!

...and they all lived happily ever after!

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