<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today is one of those days when the rhythm runs a little differently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No barn appointment in the evening.
No computer until midnight.
Instead: an invitation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The farmer and his wife invited me over for dinner.
And I tell you:
When this woman makes pelmeni, you can forget everything you\u2019ve eaten before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve eaten a lot of pelmeni in my life.
In Russian restaurants.
Even earlier, back when I was still \u201cat home.\u201d
Homemade, of course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But these here?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is not cooking.
This is persuasion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You could imagine bringing them along.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Minna and Adi would probably like to come.
At least Minna\u2014out of curiosity.
Adi more out of principle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But that won\u2019t work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They have an old, red tomcat there.
The kind who\u2019s seen everything and doesn\u2019t discuss anything anymore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I tried it once.
A mistake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Adi is not diplomatic.
Adi is big.
Adi moves toward conflict like a small, belligerent elephant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Whether it was about territory or Minna, I still don\u2019t know.
But one thing is clear:
The experiment is over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So the two of them are staying here today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And they\u2019ve known it for a while.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cats notice things like that.
They notice when you stay away longer.
When you move differently.
When you stop in front of the mirror.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s exactly where I\u2019m standing right now.
In front of the mirror.
Making myself look a little nicer.
Not much\u2014but deliberately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s just before three.
I\u2019m supposed to go over at five.
The samovar is being heated.
Dinner is at six.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Minna is sitting somewhere in the room, watching.
Not reproachful.
More observant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Adi is lying down.
As always.
But with his eyes open.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They let me go.
But they store it away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And now I already know:
When I come back later, everything will be checked closely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Smell.
Mood.
Time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But for now, I\u2019m looking forward to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To warmth.\nTo conversations.\nTo pelmeni that don\u2019t just fill you up, but tell you where you are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ll check back in later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Have a good day.
We\u2019ll read each other.We\u2019ll read each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To be continued. \ud83d\udc3e\ud83d\udda4<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a supplement to this post, a separate video statement was published<\/a><\/strong>that visually captures the moment described in everyday life and conveys additional impressions.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n To the post with the poll:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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