21 november

In general, preparation for Easter means a whole lot of cleaning. No difference there—spring cleaning sweeps across the United States (yes, haha), and many other countries, too. Out with the dust of hibernation, in with the fresh air. Since the clean-up in this case, though, is dedicated not only to the general tidying-up of the season but also to the through purification required for the celebration of a holiday in its original meaning—a holy day—this is a very rigorous clean-up indeed.

While all members of the household are engaged in the whirlwind of cleaning, passers-by occasionally have the opportunity to benefit from the thoroughness of this purge. I, for one, picked up two beautiful new televisions on a curb just by carefully observing the piles of items heaped around dumpsters during this season. 

Ahem. If you must know, yes, by “new”, I do mean “new to me”, and by “televisions”, I mean “wooden boxes that used to house televisions”.  These were two perfect pieces of furniture for me, and served as wonderful bookcases in an otherwise minimally furnished apartment. Still, it was a little awkward to walk back to my apartment building with them, one at a time, as it would have been rather difficult to carry both at the same time. Awkward is one thing, but awkward and difficult is better to avoid. Plus, it was only about a block away. I was glad to get to my building, though, and so when I stepped through the door and into the stairway and met one of our building supervisors, my relief was short-lived.

“What do you want with that?” she asked, in Russian. She was about to take her big, pacing dog for a walk. It was straining at the leash, impatient with my stupidity.

“I, um, I just want it!” I shrugged, smiled sheepishly and hurrying up the stairs.

When I got to my apartment, I closed the door behind me and set the television in its place of honor. I was slightly less proud than I would have been if I hadn’t encountered the woman and/ or her dog. I felt like what I had said was completely lame, but figured I couldn’t have said anything better with my limited Ukrainian. Then, I realized, I wouldn’t have said anything better in English. I looked at the empty wooden television box. I just, um, wanted it, and there it was. Someone had thrown it out, and now I would use it. Great.

I’d like to tell you that I jumped up and headed boldly out immediately to get the second one, but that wouldn’t be exactly true. I waited a little, maybe ten minutes. Just long enough for the woman and her dog to get a little ways away, you know. Then I went boldly back to the curb.