Canceling Christmas

There are many great classic Christmas specials I remember growing up. Most of them now are available on DVD or on some form of online streaming. zz rudolph and santa 900_rudolph_red_nosed_reindeer_blu-ray_8I introduced my own children recently to one of my favorites, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. In this particular story, there is a scene in which a distressed Santa Claus makes an announcement to all of his North Pole staff that due to inclement weather, Christmas this year would have to be cancelled. Of course, Rudolph with his nose so bright, saves the day and gets Santa to put his game face back on, but the thought that someone, even of Santa’s caliber, had the authority to cancel such an extraordinary feast sent shivers down my prepubescent spine. Continue reading

Here’s to Finding a Path for Life

Today we celebrate simultaneously the birthday of my father-in-law and the anniversary of the day he first met his future wife and our baba so many years ago. I hear a toast this evening at dinner that I have never heard before: “Here’s to finding or discovering a path/road for our life.” (za zheezin na darogu in Russian) Continue reading

Almost Home

Funny on the day before taking a trip across the ocean, we already feel like we are in Boston even though physically we are still in Moscow. One really gets that feeling in the airport.

I personally spend the beginning of the day with a couple of friends walking in a large city park then having another tea with a very warm and lovely priest who speaks English like Charles Dickens. No, really, you wouldn’t believe how refined his speech is and how much he delights in our Mother tongue. He actually taught himself English by reading the Pickwick Papers by Dickens when he was a boy.

A very full and lovely way to say goodbye to Mother Russia!