Camel from Kyzylkum

The Precious Gifts of Life

JUST WHEN IT FEELS LIKE everything has been lost, life brings surprises with its precious gifts, like it wants to provide assurance that the world is big and life is so full of unpredictable beauty and inexplicable wonders.

In November 2014, I met (via the Internet) my dear friend Valya, my kindred spirit. She is the daughter of my friend Lydia from the time before I left the Soviet Union, who lives in Russia now. Valya wanted to improve her English language skills by communicating in English, and I agreed to help her. We started to communicate, and very soon I discovered a beautiful soul, a curious mind, a powerful spirit, a great imagination. Our interaction is ongoing and gives me a feeling of great connections of our souls and spirits, something not easily found in this world. Since the time we first met, Valya has become an English teacher and advanced her career to a management position in the college. Here is an excerpt from her latest email to me:

It is always such a pleasure to get your emails! I read them at once and then reread and think how lucky I am. There are so many people all around, but hardly ever is there somebody who understands you and can talk to you about everything. I found you, my dear friend, on the other side of our planet and can’t stop needing you in my life. Thank you, Lara! You are an amazing person. My achievements for these seven years mostly belong to you. Really. I learn your stories, see your photos with you smiling in them—and that gives me a great power for going on. I want you to be happy, you are very important to me...

When I read these words, I could not hold my tears back. I thought about my daughter; I wanted to hear those words from her! I wanted to have Valya as my daughter! She is a splendid gift in my life.