A Story of Strength on Veterans Day: From the Gran Sasso and Kyiv to a Bicycle in the Snow in Cambridge, MA
Raffaelle Baldassarre (Grampa) told me about the town - about Nazi war trucks coming up the thin dirt road
This week, I received a bunch of messages from folks asking if I was okay because I had to take a couple of days off from writing. I don’t get to know who is reading this stuff, so when I get such messages, it feels good. No matter what finds its way to these pages, the stories always connect to something I’ve experienced in real life – usually on the day I write it. Truth be told, things have been really busy at work, and with Luca. Two bachelors – one who is behind on his homework, and the other who looks out the window wondering when the last leaf will fall so we can get out there and make them disappear. But today’s story must be written; you’ll see why in just a moment.
A long time ago, my grandfather told me about the day the Nazis arrived in his hometown of Ceza Castina, located high up in the Gran Sasso of Italy. Those lucky enough to call the United States of America our Home – those born and bred here, at least, have difficulty imagining such things. Pearl Harbor and September 11, 2001, shook the American lions awake, and in both cases, the people who drove the decision to attack the US learned the hard way why our nation has such debt.
In perfect time for Veteran’s Day, I listened to a first-hand account of the Russia-Ukraine mess from the mom of a then four-year-old, who was living in Kyiv when the first missile hit her city. It was dark out, and she was asleep. A successful realtor, with a day planned. She had to get her son off to daycare, and there were properties to show. She had a client who made it big in the Bitcoin climb, and he was spending millions a pop on properties – and Elena, his favorite multi-lingual realtor, took time to search for the places he’d be interested in. Then she opened her eyes because her house was shaking, and in that instant, the likelihood of anyone purchasing property in Kyiv fell to zero percent.
Let’s call this what it is. Bombs going off around you call upon a certain think fastness. And that is exactly what she did. A single mom packs up a couple of bags, loads up her car, and drives through the night, hoping to get into Poland. Airports close when missiles start flying, and the streets are packed with cars – mostly heading in the same direction – as far away as possible. So, getting out of dodge is not as easy as we might think. She told me that she was so scared, yet so tired. Driving in the dark, she recalls nearly falling asleep while the car was in motion.
When she made it to the border, things came to a halt. It took an hour just to move just a few meters. She had to sleep, but her son was awake. She moved him to the front seat and told him to watch and wake her up when the line moved. She’d sleep for 15 minutes at a time, then the would-be preschooler would tap her, and she’d inch closer to safety. But the line was too long, and even with Poland being gracious to those fleeing the country, she wasn’t getting out. With a friend about 30 kilometers from the border, she found a place to sleep – then, somehow, the line got moving; she got back to the border and made her way to Warsaw, where planes were still getting up in the air.
Her bike waits for her in the AM - She has to get to work
Aside from the obvious, Elena’s situation was more stressful because she was a Russian citizen living in Ukraine. I don’t know how all this works – but saying she was between a rock and a hard place is an understatement. A family member lived in Needham, MA, and that is where she wound up. But not for long, because he was going to Chestnut Hill, and she’d have to find a new place to live. Then, it is an apartment in Cambridge. Now what. She needed a job. She’d have to sharpen her English speaking. Transportation? Food? Getting the little one into school? And you know what? Job, check. English, check. Transportation – a bicycle. Yup. A bike to get to and from work at a local university, rain, or shine. I asked her what she’d do when it snows. And she answered that she heard they plow the streets pretty well in Cambridge, so she wasn’t too concerned. She did say that she needs to get a good hat and gloves, though.
Thank you, Sir.
This story, while unique, reminds us of the broader tapestry of human endurance and the often-unrecognized privileges we enjoy. In the United States, our lives are shaped by the sacrifices of veterans, who have shouldered our nation’s burdens to secure our freedom and opportunities. Their sacrifices mirror the strength of individuals like Elena, navigating the insurmountable. I talked to one veteran yesterday who told me he’d go to Israel or Ukraine right now if asked. Listening to him, I got a little bit of a chill. There was a seriousness to what he said, and I then learned he’d fought in a war before – and it was Vietnam in the late 1960’s.
Our veterans' sacrifices have ripple effects, particularly in the realm of education. American children have access to educational opportunities that are scarce in many parts of the world. This privilege, often taken for granted, is a luxury borne from the selflessness of those who have served. Elena’s journey, too, is a beacon of hope, showcasing the transformative power of education and opportunity in the land of the free, and the home of the brave.
When you are done reading, look closely at this one
As we reflect on this tale of survival and absurd perseverance, let us remember the unseen heroes in our midst. From the veterans who have laid the foundation for our freedoms to individuals like this courageous woman, their stories are reminders of the resilience of the human spirit. In the face of adversity, they have persevered, inspiring us all to cherish and uphold the values of freedom, opportunity, and education.