Despite all of the technology and all these people working hard to make it really easy for me to write my “diary” (they even let me forever abandon the word “blog” and continue with my more romantic version) I have fallen behind once again. On the other hand, there is Sharon, (a great girl who became a friend of our family through our music) who very lovingly and gently pointed out that she has my diary page bookmarked, but she knows that I must be very, very busy – so busy I don’t write!
Excuses, excuses, excuses…I don’t like excuses, so I decided to put Sharon’s picture on my Google calendar to pop up every few days and remind me with a gentle smile: Web diary! So, finally I’m writing. We are driving down the Penna Turnpike on a georgeous, sunny Thursday towards Allentown. I feel great, energized by the concerts and the effect they leave on those who attend, great crowds, stories that would blow you away – like the one of the young exchange student from Zagreb, Croatia who has been staying with a family in Versailles, Ohio (near Russia, OH where we had a concert). She was a bit disappointed with the scene in Versailles (a small town) because when you grow up outside of America, you think the entire country is like Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and Miami. No one ever talks about the corn fields of the midwest! The host family understood the young girl, who is a very sweet girl, and enjoyed taking her to see Chicago, New York and few other places. She was very grateful and very, very happy, but, she said there still was one thing she wanted to do while she was in America. She knew that Tajci lived in the States and mentioned it to her host family that if she could see and meet Tajci, all of her wishes would have come true. What are the odds? It’s a big, big country. But, the host family knew exactly who the girl was talking about – the mother had been to one of Tajci’s (aka Tatiana) concerts before and knew her story and her music well. The very next Sunday there was a flier in their Church Bulletin about Tajci’s concert in Russia, OH…
I have to admit that that day, when we drove into the little town of Russia I wondered: how in the world do we end up in these tiny little places and who on earth would show up for a concert? There was no “town” in sight. That night we had one of the most amazing dinner ever – all made from scratch, even the New York Cheesecake and Chocolate Mousse Pie – we thought perhaps it’s because there is no store around… It was an amazing night! After the concert I met Matea – the young girl from my home town. She was beaming with excitement and disbelief. I just regret I didn’t know she was there before the concert – because I would have sung a special song for her! (Not to use it as an excuse, but I didn’t think I’d be able to finish this entry – as I was writing we were getting the news about the attack of the US Embassy in Belgrade. Matthew was getting the phone calls and couldn’t believe that I was determined to stay focused on writing my “blog” I mean “diary”… or an update for Sharon 
Well, I texted my mother and since she didn’t text or call right back, I know that I shouldn’t be concerned. Kosovo has always been a very touchy subject in old Yugoslavia and in the most recent years… we just need to pray that it doesn’t escalate into another violent Balkan crisis.)