in like a lion . . . . . .
Posted on March 7, 2011 with 0 comments. . . . out like a lamb. I hope your March hasn't started out too leonine, and if it has, well, Spring "should" be on the way, so just grin . . . . The winter weather in Rostov-on-Don was really just about cold, not much snow. Even my time spent in Siberia was snowy only one or two days. Go figure. Now, let's see what the weather will be like during my next journey into the heart of Russia. Tomorrow morning I leave for Ekaterinburg (Yekaterinburg) for what will be a five week traipse through cities, towns, and villages. I will be seeing the cities of Surgut, Perm, Nizhni Tagil, Magnitogorsk, Chelyabinsk, Tyumen, and Nizhnevartovsk and I am sure I will see a lot of towns and villages as I pass through on trains and cars or fly over on planes. My trip to Vladivostok was postponed for this extended trip to the Ural area, a large expanse highlighted by the Ural Mountains. It lies both in European Russia and Asian Russia extending from the Arctic Ocean down to the Southern border. Should be very, very cool, but alas, I was looking forward to Vladivostok. But everyone says Vladivostok will be much more enjoyable during the summer months. If so inclined, Google or Wikipedia those city names and see a bit of what I will see in the coming weeks.
It's strange that in all my years I had never met anyone who had been to Russia. Now it seems strange that I am having the opportunity to see it like probably very, very, very few Americans could ever or ever have seen it. I will keep you posted on what I see out there.
Today is officially International Women's Day, celebrated here with much gift giving and honoring the nation's women. Since we worked a full day on Saturday in exchange for a three day weekend the building threw parties on each floor in the afternoon on Saturday. On our floor every female found tulips on her desk to welcome her to the working day. Later in the afternoon the parties started. I had taken my guitar with plans to sing for the women on my floor. Ended up playing on each floor as I became the "wandering minstrel". Of course the perfect song to serenade with was "Found", always one of my favorites. It also seems to be the one song which has really resonated here with those who listen and enjoy my feeble offerings as a tunesmith. It appears to be very quiet on the streets of Rostov as I look out at the city. I am sure everyone is enjoying the day off, and/or recovering from the three day celebration of women!!! But hell, celebrate them everyday, right?
There is one place I have wanted to play since I arrived in Rostov . . . . Bukowski's. Yeah, a great restaurant named after a great American novelist and poet, Charles Bukowski, who lived his life hard, enjoyed substances (mainly of the spirit family), and put words together in an incredible way. A block and a half from my flat. Definitely my favorite in this city. A few of the servers have my CD and have always said I should play there. Problem, it is not quite their decision. I had the pleasure though of meeting the owner a few times and passed him my CD. Saturday night he came to my table and nodded, smiled, acted as if he were strumming a guitar, nodded to the stage. So, once back from the Ural area I will schedule my show. 
His friend told me later they were driving down the Autobahn, popped it in, and said, yes . . . So, an American travels to Russia, eats at a Russian restaurant named after an American writer, gives his CD to the Russian owner, gets the nod because the Russian owner was driving the highway in Germany listening to American music. Life takes many twists and turns, doesn't it? But, the repertoire needs to be expanded a bit. Any suggestions for this old voice to tackle? Seriously, suggestions welcome. Particularly any John Hiatt you think I could do some justice to. Or Johnny Cash for that matter . . . .
Speaking of John Hiatt, I had listened before but in the past month or so have become a total fan of just about everything the man has done. And I must laugh because a few of the reviews of "Rough Hewn Heart" in European publications have actually mentioned his name comparing something they heard either in the music or the lyrics to him. Yeah, I wish. The guy is a master!!! If you haven't listened to John or it has been a long time, do. You won't be disappointed.
It is hard to believe that in five weeks I will have been in the Russian Federation for a year. Yes indeed, very hard to believe. It has been an experience. But besides being a great experience it has been a privilege to be here. The people have been wonderful and welcoming, putting up with my attempts at speaking Russian and usually failing miserably. They have welcomed me as a friend. They have welcomed me as a musician. They have welcomed me in most cases as, in their words, "my American brother." What more could an American ex-pat in Russia need. To all my "Russian brothers", thank you, your kindness has been fantastic.
But, although my enjoyment of the country and its culture should be evident as you have read these musings of mine, nothing will compare to the family that waits patiently in the US of A for my return. A wonderful wife, son and daughter who mean the world to me in every way. Kathy, David, and Sara . . . . May is just around the corner.
So, this has turned into a long rambling discourse of nothing in particular. If you have gotten this far in this message thank you for your time, thank you for the friendship, thanks for the good wishes many of you send me. I will share hopefully a bit more interesting information from Ural. Or maybe not, one never knows, does one?
Enjoy life, celebrate each other every day, embrace all the world has to offer, and don't be shy about expressing your love and appreciation to and for others.
Peace,
Roger
www.itunes.com/rogerholzheimer