These are Bogda's kids (flanked by mine) on the first day of school.WARNING: If you are sick of my stories about my neighbor stop reading now.
I've been feeling a little guilty about my recent posts regarding Bogda and my bad attitude. I have decided that I have so many little "Bogda Stories" crammed into my brain that I need to let a few out. Mostly just because she is the biggest, best character I have ever met.
I met Bogda within days of moving in. I was unloading something from the car with my mom and she came rushing over to introduce herself. Her hair was unkempt and pulled back in a haphazard pony, she was wearing a tight, short-waisted sweater and some old jeans with the top button open. I could smell the stale cigarette smoke even before her voice betrayed her habit. I could hardly understand what she was saying, her accent was so thick.
As time went on I saw her working in her driveway almost daily. Her kids would play all day while she worked with a hatchet and a cigarette.
I didn't know what she was doing at the time. I now know that she was cleaning, cutting and stacking wood to burn. Bogda's house is one of a few on our block with only electric heat. She is the only one on the block chopping wood on a regular basis. She has a wood stove that will heat the entire house.
In fact, people bring her their yard scraps, old pallets, or anything else they think she might burn. She never turns anything away.
Jared trimmed our gigantic Blue Spruce shortly after we moved in and Bogda asked if she could take the branches. I thought she was going to take them to the dump, but in less than an hour she quietly hauled it all away. I didn't even see her come.
Someday I'll get a picture of her, I just have to figure it out. I also need to get a picture of her hands, they are the biggest, hardest hands you will ever see.
P.S. I tried numerous times to reformat this post with no luck. Sometimes I have too many hard returns and then there are times like this when everything jams together. So frustrating!
4 comments:
I'm totally loving your stories of Bodga...I think you should write a book! And I can't wait to see how you get her picture!! I'm half tempted to drive on over to your house, I want you to introduce me!
I'm coming with Stacey. Maybe I could learn to garden!
I am loving these stories. I might use my son, Jeremy, to get an introduction. That way if I laugh out loud or roll my eyes at something she says or does, she won't be able to link it back to you.
LOVE it!!!How funny are some of these Eastern European ideas. I'm jealous that you have such a colorful neighbor. Get a picture for sure. I always have imagined her old....but you reassured me she is young. Let's see the proof!
And where's that recipe for the PICKLE SOUP!
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