Entry 1

12/7/2010
Another stressful day, I don't even know where to fucking start

The news says the blizzard will be over by tomorrow, but the weather says otherwise. People say we love the cold, but the truth is, we just don’t complain that much and get used to it. Sure, I used to live in a place where the temperature was below freezing, but this is getting ridiculous. At this rate, I might as well close my shop since no customers have been coming in lately.

But right now, I’m just going to visit my mom. She’s been sick for the past few weeks, and I haven’t been able to get any sleep. Why, you might ask? Because it seems like every few years, someone in our family has their life taken away. First, my uncle was sent to a GULAG camp, then my older brother died of starvation, then my father passed away during the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Mom keeps telling me not to worry about her, that she’s fine. But I just can’t stop thinking about whether she’ll survive. Well... I can’t keep her waiting. She always panics when I’m not around.

This is Ivan, signing off.