Back to Doing the Things We Do Best

A few days ago, as almost everyone I love went back to school and cold wind blew through me, I saw battle plans drawn in electric-blue chalk on a sidewalk. In terms that were nothing short of graphic, they said: Move Forward! Infallibly helpful and quite inimitable, no doubt – a brilliant strategy.

But when I moved myself along, I found, as I often do, that I have no idea where I’m going. Forward, sure. But to where? What destination? Why Russia, of course. And everyone knows where Russia is (it’s hard to miss), and everyone knows what it was (as yet, I’m refraining to read up on gulags before I go). But:

How is it now?

Oddly enough, other than the occasional and honestly enthusiastic “Oh, you’ll love it there!” and the certifiably charming “St. Petersburg just had its biggest snow storm in 130 years,” no one really seems to have much of an answer. I have no choice but to find out for myself when I get there. Regardless of what I discover, I think that writing about it will be helpful: About cats and cultural memory, about onion domes, about scratchy throats and gold leaf on banisters, stopping, walking, snow, gray, and stars; about brightly colored scarves and bread, about panic, about shopping malls and ballet and taiga. Is that all wrong? Is that delusion or stereotyping? Half delusion or stereotyping? What will I find? What will I make of it? Funny stories?

You will know more or less as I do. It will be your adventure too. Yes, in moving forward, I find myself back at the beginning of my project: I plan to restart this blog, and this time ‘round, I’ll cover my Russia experience (mostly; to the best of my ability). Will you join me? I’d like to update once a week (weather permitting) and promise it’ll probably fun to read (and comment on!) what I put down here. And if fun isn’t your cup of tea, then I’d just like to have your community.

Now raise that vodka glass one more time – to writing, bold adventure, and Mother Russia!

Thus it is as we reach our end, and that is where we are tonight. You may want to call a cab.

Good luck!

And Note: MGMT is boss.

Ancillary Note: I’m not really sure I get the above statement. If it means what I think it means, listen to me (or rather, them). If not, sorry. I’m not a Walking and Compact Urban Dictionary in Five Volumes like some people.