One frame of Alesya for now…

First we take pictures…

and then we drink Vodka!!

The building itself looked and felt as if it had been there since the beginning of buildings. It leaned on its frame and long cracks in the concrete walls ran up 2 and 3 stories high, a solid blue steal door guarding its entrance. Anzhelicka, who goes by Leeka, punched and pounded on the intercom system until we were buzzed in from above and we headed up the long, dark stairwell to the fifth floor. From the stairs the building felt cold. Hard. Concrete on top of concrete with crumbling stairs and stray cats dashing back and forth avoiding human contact at all costs. But when we reached Leeka’s aunts door, our hosts for the evening, everything changed. From inside I could hear laughter and the smell of warm, home cooked goodness wafted out from every crevice. We were greeted with much exuberance and warm hugs from everyone and at once I felt strangely enough, at home. The dining room table was moved close to couch to make room for everyone and there was a wallpaper fireplace motif on the wall to the right that made me smile. Even Anthony Bordain himself would be at home here and I couldn’t help but feel as if I too were living out some lost episode of No Reservations. The food was wonderful and the vodka and homemade coniac endless. When Leeka’s uncle filled my glass with the homemade brew I politely declined but then I remembered that Leeka had told me that it was considered rude to not eat and drink when you are a guest at someone’s home in Russia, so I hesitantly smiled and toasted with the family. My first thought was “that wasn’t so bad” but then a moment later I felt the burn deep in my throat and the tears well up in the corner of my eyes and before I could even recover from the first, my glass was full again.  ”Make yourself at home” Leeka teased “but never forget you are only visiting”. She translated for all to understand and the room erupted in laughter. My glass was filled and emptied time and time again and conversations were not of english or russian but in wild hand gestures and the grabbing and rubbing of shoulders. And thus began one of the more memorable evenings of my life.

From Russia with love….

“When I met you in the third grade, I didn’t love you yet. When you passed me a note in sixth grade while in band together, I didn’t love you yet. The first time I rode to your house on my bike, I didn’t love you yet. But this didn’t last very long. When we would take Christian to the pool when he was little, I loved you then. When you would ride on the handle bars of my bike for so long your abs would burn, I loved you then. Before we started dating, and were dating other people, I loved you then. But I didn’t know what love was yet. All I knew was how I cared for you, like I have never cared for anyone else. I remember, when we were young, Alexis saying “You two are totally going to get married one day.” I also remember thinking that as shocking as that felt at 14, inside I knew that wasn’t too far fetched. Well Alexis, it’s safe to say, you called it. But I don’t think it was such a hard thing to see. I remember my mom asking me “Why don’t you and Adrienne date?” With my grown up response of “Mom, we’re too good of friends to date. I don’t want to screw it up.” And Mom, I think we were both right. My love has grown for you over 15 years. Thats almost 60% of my life, I have loved you. When we are 70, I will have loved you for almost 93% percent of my life. That’s How Strong My Love Is. And it wont stop.

I will love you, through Sickness and in Health, in Poverty and in Wealth. I will love you, when its not easy and we have to work for it. Through the peaks and the valleys of our life, I will be loving you. In a society where few things last, I will continue to love you. When I asked you to marry me over a year ago, I promised you that I would love you for the rest of my life. And today, in front of all our family, and friends, I again promise, I will love you.

I WILL love you… for the rest of my life…

and that is what I vow to you.”

Kenny to Adrienne

“When we are 70, I will have loved you for almost 93% percent of my life.”
Kenny to Adrienne