Babushkas (Grandmothers)
Friday, September 11, 2009 at 12:20PM 
Babushkas bringing bottles and cans to collection lady Ever since I moved to Russia I’ve been troubled by the daily sight of babushkas (elderly ladies) bent over trash cans and Dempsey dumpsters extracting bottles and crushing cans for recycling. There are too many babushkas doing this!
My heart goes out to them, and I often give them a little money. I wish I could give them enough that they would never have to dig in trash cans again.
These women are not alcoholics, they are not vagrants, they are grandmothers who should be at home with the grandchildren and great grandchildren around their knees. They are typically 70 – 80 years old carrying around heavy bags of bottles and cans, and look so tired.
In early April I was hurrying to the metro and a babushka caught my eye. Her hands were in a trash can, and she was wearing green rubber gloves. I walked around the trash can and said, “Excuse me, Grandmother?” when she looked up, my heart was struck, what a beautiful lady! Her wrinkled face was open and bright, her eyes were bright blue and sparkling, she had typical Russian old lady earrings – large fuchsia rubies hanging from a gold setting – and she smiled at me! I handed her 120 rubles ($3.75 – ten to fifty times what most people give people who beg – but she wasn’t begging) and I said, “God loves you, and I pray His blessings over you.”
The smile spread across her face till she was beaming, “Thank you! God bless you and give you health and happiness. What is your name?” Of the dozens of babushkas I’ve given to, not one has asked my name. “Nicola” I told her. She smiled and said, “I am going to church for Easter. I will pray for you at church.”
“Thank you.” I choked back the tears, “God bless you richly and give you peace.” Barely noticing the stray dogs begging scraps of food, I headed to the metro door. I felt somehow this dirty metro square was holy ground, and wished I had had 500 or 1000 rubles in my pocket instead of 120. Some faces I remember, I don’t think I’ll ever forget hers.
Elderly
Reader Comments (1)
Nicola-- iI'm serving in the phonecenter of awmi & decided to check out your newsletter...the stories are so delightful, some are sobering-of course...but I think this one of the babuscka who asked your name stood out most!