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- Sep 19, 2004
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- 2,542
And now this....
I have not posted about this because I have spent the last 5+ weeks providing massive support to my wife - in Eastern Ukraine - and have not had time to invest in a thread (and have only worked about 1/2 time due to the hours and stress in helping Princess Zhanna). Actually, the support has been for 6+ weeks as the situation started a week earlier; but, she has only been in Ukraine for 5+ weeks now.
Now that she is finishing up and we had her return scheduled (Sunday); Russia invades and we are now trying to get her out of there safely (waiting for Sunday may trap her - or worse -).
I know - I have faith - that it will work out. But I sure could use some emotional support.
For those wondering why she is in Eastern Ukraine and why so long: Fair question. Let me present it the best way I can.
My wife was provided a gift. It took me a little direction from me for her to be able to accept it. But, it is one of the most wonderful gifts that can be provided anyone - ever.
She was able to spend 4+ wonderful days with her mother. Doing nothing but talking about the positive things and the future. Princess has told me it was the best days she has ever spent with her mother - and they were close (she had lived with her mother for many years and even after marrying me they had talked virtually every day).
My role in this - other than getting her back to Ukraine in time; was to tell her that she could not discuss or even mention the various "messes" she found when she got back (which was substantial in multiple areas); and that if her mother asked about any of those issues, that her only answer was: "Don't worry mom - I'll take care of that (in a positive upbeat tone)." In addition that the only thing she could talk to her mother about was how much her mom had taught herself about life and how much she had influenced herself to be a success, and the fun times they had together. (It took multiple time of my telling her that before she agreed that all the messes and concerns were off limits): But, oh what days followed.... It was a gift... for both of them. In the end the only gift that really matters at that point.
There are no other relatives in Ukraine. So Princess had to arrange the funeral - at the moment of very deep grief; deal with all of those messes, gather the legal paperwork and file the estate case, clean the condo - which is full of many things that Princess has special memories of, and many other things. She has needed a lot of support to get through it all. All this with an active war between 50 and 75 miles away depending on the day; with a Ukrainian military field hospital set up at the local airport for most of the seriously wounded.
Tomorrow morning she has the last 2 legal items: sign a limited power of attorney type document for one of her friends to be able to make decisions to care for the properties until they are sold as Princess will be in the US (nothing can be sold for 6 months - assuming there is anything to sell in the future); and pick up a legal document from an agency documenting the death of her mother as it relates to a specific item of property - and that Princess is the executor with permissions to make arrangements or sell as appropriate. Then she will have completed everything.
While difficult for both of us - and emotionally draining for myself (I've been propping up Princess all this time - without ever telling her about issues here and without anyone to prop me up); it was all coming to a good end; and we had agreed that she could finally come home this Sunday (which would give her about 1.5 days to say goodbye to friends).
Now Russia Invades and there is real concern that Russia may over-run her location before Sunday. So now we are scrambling to get her out.
The Airline has told us that her ticket back to the US is only valid if she flies out of the local airport (the 1st leg); that if she misses the 1st leg that she cannot just pick up the next connection at Kiev - unless the local airport is closed by military actions or local authorities. Like how useful is that going to be as at that point we cannot get her out; no way can we get her to Kiev for her next connection in time; and likely no way to even get a train because many thousands will likely be fleeing at that point.
Also, that we cannot just move the ticket up even a single day without spending 2X for a change fee on what the entire short notice round trip ticket cost (price a short notice round trip ticket from central US to Eastern Europe) and I did not ask about moving it up 2 days as the agent said that would be A LOT more money).
Her brother is working on some other options that should be cheaper based on her taking trains west.
Current plans are to have her on a train to Kiev tomorrow - and figure it out from there. We hope that the train tracks are not destroyed (the "Rebels" have been destroying train tracks)
I know this will all work out; but, its like.... "and now this happens...." after all we have gone through in the last 6 weeks.
Yahweh is testing us.
Anyway I had to get this off of my chest. Support is requested. Not sure how much time I will have to respond - at least until I know she is safely far enough west (or in another country).
Have a great day,
Perry
I have not posted about this because I have spent the last 5+ weeks providing massive support to my wife - in Eastern Ukraine - and have not had time to invest in a thread (and have only worked about 1/2 time due to the hours and stress in helping Princess Zhanna). Actually, the support has been for 6+ weeks as the situation started a week earlier; but, she has only been in Ukraine for 5+ weeks now.
Now that she is finishing up and we had her return scheduled (Sunday); Russia invades and we are now trying to get her out of there safely (waiting for Sunday may trap her - or worse -).
I know - I have faith - that it will work out. But I sure could use some emotional support.
For those wondering why she is in Eastern Ukraine and why so long: Fair question. Let me present it the best way I can.
My wife was provided a gift. It took me a little direction from me for her to be able to accept it. But, it is one of the most wonderful gifts that can be provided anyone - ever.
She was able to spend 4+ wonderful days with her mother. Doing nothing but talking about the positive things and the future. Princess has told me it was the best days she has ever spent with her mother - and they were close (she had lived with her mother for many years and even after marrying me they had talked virtually every day).
My role in this - other than getting her back to Ukraine in time; was to tell her that she could not discuss or even mention the various "messes" she found when she got back (which was substantial in multiple areas); and that if her mother asked about any of those issues, that her only answer was: "Don't worry mom - I'll take care of that (in a positive upbeat tone)." In addition that the only thing she could talk to her mother about was how much her mom had taught herself about life and how much she had influenced herself to be a success, and the fun times they had together. (It took multiple time of my telling her that before she agreed that all the messes and concerns were off limits): But, oh what days followed.... It was a gift... for both of them. In the end the only gift that really matters at that point.
There are no other relatives in Ukraine. So Princess had to arrange the funeral - at the moment of very deep grief; deal with all of those messes, gather the legal paperwork and file the estate case, clean the condo - which is full of many things that Princess has special memories of, and many other things. She has needed a lot of support to get through it all. All this with an active war between 50 and 75 miles away depending on the day; with a Ukrainian military field hospital set up at the local airport for most of the seriously wounded.
Tomorrow morning she has the last 2 legal items: sign a limited power of attorney type document for one of her friends to be able to make decisions to care for the properties until they are sold as Princess will be in the US (nothing can be sold for 6 months - assuming there is anything to sell in the future); and pick up a legal document from an agency documenting the death of her mother as it relates to a specific item of property - and that Princess is the executor with permissions to make arrangements or sell as appropriate. Then she will have completed everything.
While difficult for both of us - and emotionally draining for myself (I've been propping up Princess all this time - without ever telling her about issues here and without anyone to prop me up); it was all coming to a good end; and we had agreed that she could finally come home this Sunday (which would give her about 1.5 days to say goodbye to friends).
Now Russia Invades and there is real concern that Russia may over-run her location before Sunday. So now we are scrambling to get her out.
The Airline has told us that her ticket back to the US is only valid if she flies out of the local airport (the 1st leg); that if she misses the 1st leg that she cannot just pick up the next connection at Kiev - unless the local airport is closed by military actions or local authorities. Like how useful is that going to be as at that point we cannot get her out; no way can we get her to Kiev for her next connection in time; and likely no way to even get a train because many thousands will likely be fleeing at that point.
Also, that we cannot just move the ticket up even a single day without spending 2X for a change fee on what the entire short notice round trip ticket cost (price a short notice round trip ticket from central US to Eastern Europe) and I did not ask about moving it up 2 days as the agent said that would be A LOT more money).
Her brother is working on some other options that should be cheaper based on her taking trains west.
Current plans are to have her on a train to Kiev tomorrow - and figure it out from there. We hope that the train tracks are not destroyed (the "Rebels" have been destroying train tracks)
I know this will all work out; but, its like.... "and now this happens...." after all we have gone through in the last 6 weeks.
Yahweh is testing us.
Anyway I had to get this off of my chest. Support is requested. Not sure how much time I will have to respond - at least until I know she is safely far enough west (or in another country).
Have a great day,
Perry
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