European Left Turn

A night-on-Earth inspired a special memoir for humility in an American traveler's heart (for a future-weakness).

An Earth hospitality 'faerie-tale' of reflection/memoir. 

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I was in the Ukraine before the Invasion (Russian). I was in a cab in Ukraine at night, for a long drive during a journalist visit to document the spread of both Christianity and capitalism and conversed with my cabbie for a long while and learned of his unique/special Eastern Euro life of resilience cleats. We didn't anticipate (either) the oncoming invasion feeling of Hell for Selfie-culture reading (damn).

I write this post-account 'night-on-Earth' dark faerie-tale now thinking (solely) of that Ukraine-cabbie who became my best friend that day/night while I paid him to simply drive me around the great culture-rich city of gold and ornaments and people. I'd never been there...and I learned he was struggling to make ends meet to meet the bills to care for his sick child (boy); the night drive in that Euro-cab had this certain premonition air of resilience of human race with a more prescription like Christian feel, as if my cabbie was like Job himself (Facebook-like!).

I honestly pitied my Ukraine-cabbie that night in Europe (damn). He was a man who was enduring much; I decided to gift him my very-expensive (purchased!) ancient vase which I intended to take back to the American Homeland with me to gift to my mother (Nina); but my cabbie had somehow earned the damn treasure (somehow).

WIFE: Irish curry-stew for my hubby for Saint Patrick's Day '24.

ME: Can't wait for the Paris Olympics this year, darling.

WIFE: You've got a pensive look to your spoon, hon.

ME: Thought about a pre-invasion cab-ride on Earth...real fear (Selfie-like).

"Doing well is the result of doing good. That's what capitalism is all about" (Ralph Waldo Emerson). 

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"Money is everything" (Ecclesiastes)