Once I read Svetik’s note that V+T were in New Jersey, I contacted the rink manager and got their training schedule. And because I had a hellish week facing me at work, I went to my office over the weekend to get ahead of my work obligations.
For the first two days, Tanya and Max’s schedule was to be from 10 a.m. to 12p.m. and 1:45 – 3:45 p.m. I decided to go on Tuesday because I needed time on Monday to buy them a good bottle of champagne. I re-wrote the card of congratulations six times and what I said was probably still stupid.
I took an 8:15 bus and got to the rink complex an hour later. The manager said he’d be away that morning but he was there when I arrived so I gave him the (less expensive) bottle of champagne I had brought him for his continued kindness to me.
As described before, there is a very large, high-ceilinged, open area outside the rinks (there are two rinks) with chairs and tables but a lot of open space with a good floor and walls of glass to the outside. Part of the open space was sectioned off – it was obvious that this area was reserved and it would serve essentially as a training room. I sat outside that special area. There was no one else around but me.
Shortly after I sat down, Nina Mozer came walking along by herself, and went into the sectioned area. She sat at a table and started making phone calls. I considered going over to her to thank her for the wonderful accomplishments she has achieved with Volosozhar and Trankov, but I thought better of it. If I were to talk to her, I might lose my chance for a word with Tanya and Max. I knew what my priorities were!
Then a tall, very good-looking guy came from some hidden room between the rink and the open area. For a split-second, I didn’t recognize him. He was thinner than I thought he’d be. And was dressed in tight, new-looking exercise clothes and sneakers. It was Max. Last year he was late to practice. This year, he had arrived before Nina.
As soon as I saw him, I stood up and picked up the gift-wrapped box of champagne I brought, and started to move toward him. He was walking toward me and smiled but he turned right around and ran out the glass door to run around the entire building complex!
Okay, he had smiled but briefly. But what had he been thinking? “Oops, looks like a fan is here. I have no time. No particular interest. Gotta ‘ go!” And he disappeared.
Then Tanya came out of the same hidden room. She too was wearing tight exercise clothes and sneakers, hair in a pony tail. She walked around a bit while Nina was talking on the phone. Tanya has a gorgeous figure -- the flattest stomach I’ve ever seen. Not an ounce of extra weight. She’s as perfect as perfect can be.
Tanya walked out of the cordoned-off area and I picked up the champagne again, and saying “Excuse me”, I went up to her.
I introduced myself quickly and told her that I was a fan of her and Max’s skating and how much I admired both of them. I said that I came from Manhattan to give them this small gift to congratulate them on their marriage. I couldn’t look at her and concentrate on what I wanted to say, so I sort of talked to the floor and still I was less than brilliant. She is prettier in person than in pictures. She has the most beautiful, glowing skin. She is a very rare creature – it almost seems as if she gives off light, like a delicate firefly. (Or perhaps a fire-bird when she’s angry). She said a lovely and warm, very softly spoken, “thank you.” But she was reserved.
I guess I stumbled around with a few more comments praising them.
Then I went back to my table and I can’t remember exactly, but somehow she was still nearby and I mentioned that I had written them a letter and had she received it? I repeated my name. She shook her head and said….”I can’t remember…. we get so many…” and then she added, “but sometimes we reply! ” I said more stuff about how wonderful Masquerade Waltz was and how much I loved the music for Dracula. And that I’d thought they were even better than Gordeeva and Grinkov, Bereshnaya and Sikharudlikze, and she laughed, and said “ That was a long time ago!” I added that maybe they were even better than G&G, because they did more difficult maneuvers. Then I thanked her and said I didn’t want to take any more of her practice time. I wished them success and good fortune for the 2018 Olympics. She answered, “We are trying…”
She returned to her space and I was sort of embarrassed so I buried myself in looking at my I-phone. A few moments later, she came to the table and put two small, signed photographs on the table, “Maybe this can be a reply….” I thanked her but I was almost overcome! What a sweet and gracious person. You know what Tanya has? Integrity. That‘s why she glows. She is a modest, unassuming and gentle young woman.
Okay, I have to go home. This is the first part of my comments. My husband called and wonders why I’m so late at work. It’s because I’m writing this! I’ll write more tomorrow. In order not to leave you in suspense, I didn’t really meet Max. My next report will be about their practicing their lifts and my thoughts about how difficult it is to be a fan, etc. All for now.
