Birthday Wishes

The Bald Kid tells me that we are to eat some eggs in honor of his birthday—

that he is spending in a far away land–called Siberia.

An odd place to turn 20 in–but he’s happy as a clam and learning and growing and becoming more and more of the man he was meant to be. And now–we have no more teens in our family. That’s even more odd.

Oh, how I miss this fellow.

Happy Birthday my sweet boy.  We love you.

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What To Send A Boy…


who is hanging out in Siberia for a couple of years? I wasn’t quite sure so…

I asked him what he was particularly missing these days. He said, “Protein.”

Apparently, these guys spend a bit of time doing service for the elderly to help them keep up their gardens. For some, it’s nearly all the food they have.

In Siberia–according to the artist-formerly-known-as-the-bald-kid…

folks walk right out their back doors and pick a few strange, leafy things from the garden…

come in the house and wash them, cut them all up and put the unknown greens in a bowl.

The bald kid’s been handed this mystery salad many, many times now. When he asks what–exactly, it is, the answer is always the same.

“Dinner.”

He’s a brave, adventurous fellow and is thoroughly enjoying himself–as well as the food–in this far away place. Told me in his letter the other day that he’s becoming a big fan of Borsch, and now and then there are even meat balls.

So–the care package is on it’s way.

It will take between two to three months to reach him, but I’ll have a few more in line to go by then.

In the meantime–his kind, sweet letters remind me how blessed we are in this country, in so many ways, and how grateful I am to have such a good, caring young man to call my son.

Be well and strong my boy. Enjoy the sunshine.

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From Russia…With Love

Just in case anyone wondered–the Bald kid has indeed survived his first week in Siberia–well, whole and happy. He says that they’ve already been chased off a bus by a little old lady screaming that they’re serving Satan. Wow…Satan…seriously? Sheesh.

He also told us that he sang a solo in church–oh, not intentionally, and not because he sings, really. Apparently someone asked him a question in Russian and he thought he  understood and said yes. Next thing he knows, he’s got a hymnbook in his hand and he’s up front singing all by himself. Would have paid big money to see that!

This is the view from his apartment window…a bit grim by our standards, but I’m told it’s actually a very nice apartment. I’m looking for parking lots or something…but maybe that’s just silly.

Here the guys are cooking up some odd looking thing called Palmene. Pretty sure I didn’t put that in his cookbook from home! It’s a little noodle-y thing with meat in it. I’m not asking what kind of meat…we’ll just leave that alone for now.

He says the yogurt and dairy are “epic” but that they are only allowed to drink water that they buy–so he’s thirsty a lot. Wonder how he made the herb tea…hmmm….

Be safe and well my sweet boy on the other side of the world. I suppose it’s best if you have no earthly idea just how badly this mama misses you.

More than you’ll ever know.

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