BEYOND TRAGIC

 

Watching the war in the Ukraine unfold sickens me and makes me want to weep. I feel a personal connection to there and to Russia. Back in 1979 when I was 28 I toured both. I traveled all the way down the Crimean Peninsula.

It was the year before Russia hosted the Olympics. The one we boycotted because they went into Afghanistan.

My hotel in Moscow was located directly across from the Kremlin. Early in the AM I'd see the old ladies in babushkas sweeping the street from my hotel window. Nowadays I see photos of old ladies wearing babushkas holding rifles in the Ukraine.

Back then, Kyiv was spelled Kiev and pronounced Key-ev.  Listening to the reporters on TV I wondered if they were talking about the same place. I Googled it, and yes it is! Also back in the Iron Curtain days when I visited, St. Petersburg was called Leningrad.

At that time, there existed such harmony between Russia and the Ukraine I could never have imagined what is occurring now! It is shocking and heartbreaking to see so many places in the Ukraine I visited bombed to rubble!

Russian bombs were even falling at the Babi Yar WWII Memorial, the site of a mass slaughter, also a mass grave. I remember it well. I want to shake my head and cry.

After returning home, many told me (with attitude) they would never go to Russia for any reason. Those #$%&@ communists should never see one dime of our money!

And I told them NOT to hate the Russian people! Many of them feel the same disdain toward their government and the communist system as Americans do, but they are trapped there. 

Although it didn't happen to me personally, several members of my tour were approached by Russian citizens looking for answers on seeking asylum in the United States. They were advised, "If you don't have money, stay there!"

Since the invasion of the Ukraine many Russians have fled their country. Thousands of others are peacefully protesting and being arrested as traitors. You can bet they will receive more than a slap on the wrist as punishment unlike the genuine traitors in our country who stormed the capitol on Jan. 6 attempting to overthrow a valid election.

The shameful and disgraceful scene in Washington D.C. was another event I never expected to see in my lifetime when I journeyed behind the iron curtain long ago.

Of all the countries I've visited (and I've been to a whole lot of places) that's the one of which I am the most proud. I recall it vividly and treasure the memories.

In particular I remember my free afternoon in Leningrad. A fellow traveler named Richard & I boarded a city bus and went exploring together. Richard had a map of Leningrad and with the help of others on the bus (we spoke no Russian & they no English) helped us to locate all the sites we planned to visit.

But as the day wore on we found ourselves lost. Inside a park, a pretty Russian girl noticed us looking at the map and gathered that we were having a problem. Although she was not versed in English, she came over to help. We showed her the map and gave her the name of our hotel.

Soon a boy around age 12 approached as well. The lad also spoke no English. He and the young woman talked. We were directed to follow him. He led us to the subway and even boarded with us. We were surprised to discover a subway platform to disengage right below our hotel. Never had I been on a subway in my life until the week before in Moscow. Indeed we were grateful for the help of these strangers!

Throughout the tour we were assigned two guides, an American and a Russian, both young women in their mid 20's. The Russian guide was named Natasha. She possessed a refinement along with a natural elegance. And was one of the sweetest young women ever!

I can't help but think of her now. I hope she is safe and well, and most of all living happily in a country far from there.

My hope is that this horrific invasion will bring about the end of Vlad Poop'n! And I would love to see all the yachts and mansions seized from the Russian oligarchs sold and the money used to repair and rebuild all of the ghastly destruction inflicted upon the Ukraine.

But sadly, you can't give back a life once it has been taken.