Painting session with Lyudmila and Jegor

I drove to the campground where Lyudmila and her family live so I could teach her a painting technique that is dear to my heart. She was fantastic. You can tell she is an artist even by the way she loads her brush. She was a very willing and eager student. Her little son Yegor was very happy to help us along the way. This little fellow is two years old and only speaks Russian but I got along with him as if we both speak the same language. I think children can tell if you love them and he gives great hugs. He kept telling me "paka, paka" when I was leaving which means goodbye in Russian. I could see him waiving in my rear view mirror the whole time I was driving away. Next time she will be teaching me a different method of crocheting and I am really looking forward to it. I hope the woman at Enrichment meeting tomorrow night will be as eager to learn as Lyudmila was today. I'm really happy to be teaching again. Paint is in my blood remember?

Lyudmila was telling me about her life back in Siberia. Growing up she would tend her little brother who was two years old when she was only six years old herself. Her mother would head off to work each day leaving her with the responsibility of taking care of things at home. Her father did not work she told me because he was an alcoholic . Later when she got older and had a family of her own, she worked several jobs but sometimes did not get paid because the company was having a difficult time. She would just go on to find somewhere else to work that might come through on pay day. Her husband started up a repair shop of his own but she told me that he had to close down because of the corruption there. He could not afford the payments he had to make to the police and the mob for protection. Her husband is determined to never go back there again.

This woman is very happy with the simple things of life and she does not expect to live in a mansion. She just wants to be able to feed and clothe her children and keep a roof over their heads. She is just so extremely lonely. I think we have become very spoiled with all the conveniences and luxuries we enjoy back home. Just being able to live comfortably and freely should be all we need. I just hope we don't loose anymore freedoms than we already have.