Each day I read articles about Estonia buying US missiles with which to target Russia, Ukraine getting US targeting intelligence for Russian refineries, Friedrich Merz saying Germany is not at war with Russia, but is also not at peace.
While waiting for my meal in Pskov Oblast I was enjoying my beer, enjoying the charming ambience of the restaurant, which as is very common in Russia was playing English language, mostly American, music. This song came on and I kind of „couldn’t believe it“. I found myself looking at the speakers with a quizzical expression on my face, so an attentive server came over and looked at me inquiringly to see what was wrong. „Chris Isaak,“ I said. „Yes,“ she answered, „Wicked Game“ (in English). She waited, to see what the problem was. „San Francisco,“ I explained. „Chris Isaak is from San Francisco. I am from San Francisco. I am sitting in a restaurant in Russia and listening to a musician from San Francisco.“ She continued to look at me, trying to figure out what the problem was, then decided there was no problem, we both nodded, and she disappeared behind the bar. A short while later she reappeared with a delicious liqueur which she told me was compliments of the management.
When I read that Americans, Brits, Germans, – unable to locate major Russian cities on a map – call for attacking these cities with missiles, I think of various Russians I’ve met, men and women who take for granted that they listen to American music and are friendly and kind to American tourists.