Day 23

Lunch with Igor’s mom.

We left a little early. We thought we would meet the small group at noon but Tanya called at 11:30 to say they were already at the restaurant. We hopped a bus and headed a few miles down the road to a favorite, “Chinook.” I thought maybe they had snatched the wonderful Indian word for the warm wind that blows in Colorado in the winter but it’s pronounced differently and means something like, “a bar.” No Igor, I think he had to work but Oksana was there, Tanya and Anya to help with conversation. The restaurant was empty. We found a place in a more private room. A fellow came in and turned on some lights and the TV in the corner of the room. Discovery Channel! A family favorite at home. At one point this channel selection became horribly unappetizing as we watched “Survivor Man” eat some poor innocent grub he found. I floundered. Uh, Plov? No it has to be called in ahead of time(I’ll get some yet, Felix). Chicken Kiev? A default but okay. I find it to be dry but edible. I recommended Ragu for Rolan as it’s a stew. Anya ordered her favorite, which was Greek salad.

We chatted about life in America. Then, I asked Oksana if she had always lived in Slavyansk. No, she is originally from Russia but came in ’82. They have one child, Igor. Tanya has been like a daughter. I thanked her for giving Tanya such loving advice. There are indeed many opportunities in America. Boulder especially. We are kind of education junkies in Boulder. We have colleges, trade schools, a University and even a cooking school. Does she let Tanya do all the cooking? I liked Oksana. She didn’t eat much. I don’t know if she was nervous or actually had eaten some before - hand as she said. I had made a soft blue scarf for her and gave Igor a little light that attaches to a key ring with extra batteries when the current ones burn out. A cool gadget. An hour and a half later, we bid farewell and headed for the internot.

Still a half of a block away, the girls came running to us. They must have been playing outside. I was glad. The world had melted and lay in impassable pools. Rolan was wearing his dress shoes so he could re-waterproof his boots. The mud was unforgiving. We stopped at the little market near the internot in search of water, tissues, or other needed things. They have the most delectable cakes. Nastia picked out a single serving chocolate one. I wanted one too. Sasha requested a sprite. Rolan grabbed 4 gallons of water (with convenient handle for carrying). Rolan had noticed earlier a single car width, paved road down the middle of the parkway in the middle of the boulevard. There were others walking on it and it looked drier and better attended then the sidewalk we had been using. Sure enough. It was an excellent way to go.

We fed the girls and played cards with them. Then we took a taxi back to the internot, and then to the supermarket. The taxi waited while we shopped. We are buying the girls “crabbie”, which looks like fake crab meat.