AlexandraTolstoy and her father Leo Tolstoy (courtesy of Wiki-in thePublic domain
I have enjoyed reading Nina Hollander 's posts on Active Rain. On several occasions we have commented back and forth on one post with as many as 3 comments. We actually have conversations. Recently, I mentioned that when we arrived in the United States, we stayed at the Tolstoy Foundation.
The Tolstoy Foundation is a non profit charitable philantropic founded by Countess Alexandra Tolstaya, the youngest daughter of the Russian writer, Leo Tolstoy. Its primary purpose at the time my family emigrated to America was to help Russian refugees from Europe and the Soviet Union emigrate as well as settle in their new homeland. I remember meeting the countess. She assisted my father in translating his French Engineering Degree and with the aid of Columbia University in New York he was given the equivalent of a PhD.
Nina's comment back to me mentioned that she was surprised by this as she did not know anyone who even knew about the Tolstoy Foundation. Nina spent her summers with her family in Rockland county, Valley Cottage where the foundation is located. It is very possible that we met as little girls.
Last Thursday, Nina and I spent a couple of delightful hours talking. We talked about our lives and our families. We both had fathers who were Russian born. If you subscribe to Nina's blog, you will recall that she travels to Russia every year to visit family. She described every day Russian life in St. Petersburg where her sister lives.
We shared our philosophies on Russia, currently and historically. We talked about the unique Russian psyche that has the strength, soul and spirit to withstand extreme hardship. She cited the 872 day, siege of Leningrad (now back to its original name, St.Petersburg). It started on September 8, 1941, with the bombardment by the German army and all routes to the city were close, which resulted in no food supplies reaching the city. Over one million people died. Nina mentioned that some of those who survived are still alive and well.
At the end of the conversation, we spoke a little bit about real estate. What was marvelous is how we connected again through Active Rain and real estate. We will definitely meet again face to face. It is on both of our agendas to do that.
Thank you Kathy Streib for hosting this challenge.
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