Notebook #2 in Hand

Notebook #2 arrived today - one day EARLIER than promised. Thank You Federal Express.  At noon last Thursday, the book was in my hands; at noon this Thursday, Sasha had it in his hands.  And it even went through Russian Customs in that time.  Yippee!

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One week from today is Sasha’s Interview at the Moscow Embassy.

I was surprised to discover that the US Moscow Embassy has a Facebook page!

So, of course, I posted something on it.  There has been one response to it, but it is written in Russian, so I have no idea what it says.

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Sasha is tending to Sereja (his son), the garden, and his students.

“I was out for a while together with Sereja. He collected his school books so tomorrow we will bring those books back to the school library. He is waiting for me to go to the garden now, prompting: “Dad, let's go! The weather is fine, shall us water the garden!"

“Today looks I shall be busy with lessons almost all the day, if nothing extraordinary takes place.”

Notebook #1 Arrived

The first email I read this morning was only one sentence in length plus a picture worth a thousand words

“Dear Tina, here I am with the play book at last. ;-)”

In a second email Sasha wrote:

“Have just caught myself on the thought that I am having fun with all this, though sometimes it looks a bit frustrating, but sure Spirits help us.”

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Yesterday a US International Postal service rep contacted me in response to the inquiry I had previously made.  She shared what we already knew - the Moscow Postal Sorting Station had experienced a fire recently and thus did not move any mail for a week.  Lanie said she would place a urgent request for a tracking investigation on our package.  She said sometimes a little prompting helps push things through.  I should call back in 4-5 days to find the results of the investigation.  I replied, “Forget the investigation, just have them deliver the package!”  Today it was delivered!  Yipee!

I was slightly disheartened that I spent so much time and money Thursday to get a second Playbook shipped.  My dear husband lovingly stated, “You could not afford NOT sending the second book.  The risk of Book #1 not arriving on time was too great.”  Gotta love that man!

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Also, after 42 days, Sasha has finally received the postcards I sent him.

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Sasha’s Mother is out of the hospital.

Tina, Thank you for the concern... Mother will never be good already. Almost every day she takes pain killers. She suffers joint pains and many other illnesses in addition to heart. … To say more, she tries even to help me; when Sereja is at my place, she prepares some food and "crawls out" to the kitchen garden to water the carrot, parsley and other agro-cultures and tries, successfully, to direct Sasha: what he should do and what he should not to....

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Sereja (Sasha’s son) is now out of school for the summer and will be staying with Sasha for the next few weeks

“Sereja has a party at school today (Friday) on the occasion of the end of primary school.  Now, we are going out with Sereja to the town to have his hair cut.

…

I visited Sereja’s Advancement to Secondary School Celebration.  There was dinner, dancing and each of the children released a balloon with their secret wish attached to it. 

Ex wife Lena was there too.

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Just 3 weeks until Sasha’s scheduled arrival …

Playbook 2.0

Before you read today’s story, I ask each of you to take a moment and say a silent “Thank You” to all our U.S. Postal Workers.  Better yet, next time you see one - actually thank them for what they do.  Over the years I have sent numerous greeting cards and small tokens to Sasha; he did not receive many of them.  Very frustrating.  This latest notebook was sent with 8-10 day Express Delivery from LA to Dinskya where Sasha lives.  The Russian Post office is slow moving resulting in an estimated 34 day delivery time instead!  So why did I pay for that urgent delivery?

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Now for Today’s story…

Today as with most days, the first thing I do (after brushing teeth) is to go to my office and check for emails from Sasha.  This morning’s caught me by surprise.  I was expecting a “Hello, the Notebook is here!”  (Since it is now 6 days overdue).  Instead Sasha wrote that the Russian postal service estimates they will deliver it on June 5^th.   He leaves for the Moscow interview that evening.    We needed a few days to finalize the contents of the book.  That sure did not start my day well!

The next action was to post a blog and email the team.  Results happen when energy is focused on something.  I called out for earthly and heavenly assistance.

Playbook 2.0 Ready to Go

Next was a phone call to Federal Express.  Questions:  What shipping options are there for getting a package to rural Russia in the next week?  And more importantly: “Does Fed Ex handle the package until its delivery, or does the Russian postal service carry it?”

Answer:  “Fed Ex carries the package to its delivery point -- except for the time at Russian Customs. No guarantees there.   You have ONE option to get the parcel there by Friday, May 31^st.  The cost is $$$.   You must get it to the Fed Ex airport office by this afternoon.  (Monday is also a US Holiday).”

So… as of 9 a.m. this morning, I began re-creating the Sasha notebook.  People have asked if I kept a scanned copy.  It’s not that simple.  Think “scrapbook” versus scanned letters. There’s more to it than simple pages.  There are inserts, sealed original letters, etc.  Out came the colored papers, cutters, plastic page protectors, dividers, label maker, post its, tape, new binder, etc.  Took a break at noon for some breakfast cereal.  By 2 p.m. the notebook was by my door ready to go. I changed out of pajamas and headed to the airport.

 

The lady at the Fed Ex office had me filling out all sorts of forms.  There was one rate for 2 lbs. or under and another rate over 2 lbs.  I had carefully tried to determine which pages and dividers were highest priority and how many blank sleeves to include, etc.  I held my breath as the book was weighed …  The scale read exactly 2.00 lbs!  Thank You Angels.  The new Playbook was sent out around 2:30 this afternoon with delivery expected on Friday, May 31^st.

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I did stop at the local Post Office where I had mailed the first notebook.  They said there was nothing they could do once the parcel was in the custody of the Russian postal service.

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Leaving the airport today I had the thought, “Geez!  It might have been easier to fly this book to meet Sasha in Moscow and hand it to him directly!”  LOL  Trying to laugh a little, ‘cause I sure felt like crying earlier today.