Until the middle of 1955 we lived in Tashkent on Besh-Agach, Tambur dead end, house 5.
Then we moved to the 1st Teatralny proezd, house 15, where there were temporary houses and a big yard.
My parents hand in hand built a beautiful house, with two large rooms, a glazed terrace, a huge basement, a winter and summer kitchen, a bathroom with a toilet. It was rare to have such amenities for that time. There was a tandoor in the house, where our mom baked flatbread, samsa, tunuk, noni toki (national flour pastry).
Dad was kind and farsighted, he created all conditions for us. He loved mom and tried to do everything for her and her relatives. We had no distinction between dad’s and
Mom’s relatives, everyone was one friendly family.
A separate building was for our beautiful, intelligent, poised princess-Grandma Husni, who was looked after by Mommy and Daddy. Daddy not only built the house with splendid architectural taste, but also invited restorers from the museum, who worked long hours and made it beautifully decorated. The rooms were 3.80 meters high, the living room ceilings were carved wood, the mirrors were painted in burgundy tones with with golden hues. The floor had Indian-made carpeting. In the parlor stood piano, a large polished floor clock with a chiming beat and golden chains.
A beautiful sideboard, large floor vases made of Czech crystal and from China. The ceiling was decorated with a large crystal chandelier with candlesticks. The windows had German tulle and velvet curtains framed the doors. A large long table with an off-white embroidered, starched tablecloth stood in the middle of the room. Along the length of the room stretched a glass terrace with a beautifully painted floral ceiling.
Mom kept an immaculate, perfect cleanliness in the house. In this house. the parents, under Mom’s careful guidance, welcomed guests with love, joy and all the Jewish holidays. Before Passover, all the families and neighbors would gather at our house. for three or four days, baked matzah, the men kneaded the dough, and the women rolled and bake. The woman who baked was invited, my mother often replaced her. From the evening my mother cooked pilaf, soup, everyone ate, drank, laughed to the sound of music. On Passover everyone dressed in their best clothes and gathered at our house. Dad and his brother, Uncle Semyon, sat in the center in luxurious robes, leaning on snow-white cushions, and held the Passover seder. Mom would sing along with Dad in her mesmerizing voice. These traditions united all of us into one big and friendly family and continue from generation to generation.
Ruben’s parents: Uyno and Husni Gulkarov
