I find a box in the basement, filled with my grandmother’s journals. I read from my the journals, written in the early 1940s, just after she had emigrated to the U.S. She’s a liberated Soviet woman, struggling with learning English, taking care of her two kids, deeply homesick for Russia, traveling around and giving talks about her childhood to raise money for Russian war relief. And she’s in love— but not with my grandfather.

Music: Theme song , “Welcome Dear Guests” by Kostroma, from their album “Over the Sea”. https://kedry-gift-store.myshopify.com/ facebook:https://www.facebook.com/KostromaVocal

“Stepan Razin’s Dream” from “Songs of Russia Volume 1” https://www.instagram.com/vek.backstage/ youtube.com/vekchannel

“Kupalo” sung by Evgeniy Bagrintsev : https://www.instagram.com/bagrintsev_evgenii/?hl=en

“Ne Dlya Menya” sung by Stepan and Valentina Nestorovy: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-pkOpwAC20BnOL3N_jmksg

https://www.instagram.com/sokol_nesterovy/?hl=en

Lyrics:

Not for me comes spring,

Not for me the river Don will spill.

There is a girl's heart clogged

With delightful feelings - not for me.

Not for me flowering gardens,

In the valley blooming grove,

There nightingale meets spring,

He will sing not for me.

Not for me murmuring brooks,

Flowing diamond jets,

There a maiden with black eyebrows,

She grows not for me.

Not for me comes Easter,

At the table all relatives will gather,

"Christ is risen" shall pour from the lips, 1

Easter day is not for me.

Not for me the flowers bloom,

The fragrant rose will fade

Pick a flower and it will whither

Such a life is not for me.

For me there is a piece of lead,

Which will dig into my white body

And bitter tears will flow -

Such a life, brother, waiting for me.

https://lyricstranslate.com

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