From Warsaw to Missouri: The Artist’s Way
 
I am sitting in my room at the Courtyard Marriot in Kansas City, Missouri while Mlada packs her bags in Warsaw, Poland.  Mlada just finished her performance of Nabucco with Niccoli Pultin as Nabucco (Mlada told me over the phone that she received many bravas, which does not surprise me.).  Yesterday, I finished packing all the boxes in our Wisconsin home.  Currently, I am on the long slow road to southern California.  Mlada and I have bought a house in San Pedro, CA (near Los Angeles).  So tomorrow while Mlada flys back to St. Petersburg, Russia, I will be rolling into Amarillo, Texas.  Frankly, I do not want to move again for a very long time.  It is too much work.
 
Mlada also received news after her ultrasound; we have a baby girl on the way!!!  We have picked a name: Petra-Elizabeth.  Mlada is expecting at the end of July.  The entire family is overjoyed.  We are so lucky to have my mother Patricia Fox to look over Petra, while Mlada and I travel.  Thank you, Mom.
 
Mlada, with baby, are currently preparing Norma for St. Gallen, Switzerland.  St. Gallen was very interested to hear about Mlada’s pregnancy.  Mlada will be in her 8th month when she sings the opening night of Norma on June 18th.  Stage directors often have a difficult time concealing when an opera singer is pregnant.  Audience members often need to “suspend their disbelief (Coleridge)” even more during the performance.  The Artistic Director of St. Gallen said that Mlada’s pregnancy will add to the character of Norma, a woman who has much to hide.  I will arrive in St. Gallen, Switzerland on June 1st to be with Mlada.  I will be the most nervous on anyone when Mlada takes the stage on June 18th.
 
Mlada and I spend much time apart.  One question I continually have to answer is: “How can you two deal with not seeing each other all the time?”  I always respond, “Is a traveling salesman job different, a lawyer at a big law firm, a small business owner? Those people also have very little time with their spouse and loved ones.”   I really do not think it is different.  If you are passionate about your life, then your life will take you many different places.  It is almost impossible to be with your spouse all the time. 
 
Actually, the distance has been difficult during Mlada’s pregnancy, but we talk everyday and write SMS messages on our cell phones.  John and Abigail Adams were separated for four years when John Adams was at the French Court at the end of the 18th Century. But, the love between the Adams never diminished.
 
It is not easy, but to do important things in life takes sacrifice.  That does mean that I wish I could see Mlada more often.  I wish I could spend every minute with her and I know she would say the same.  But, when we see each other every second is golden.  Life is never perfect, but we consider ourselves very lucky.

Best Wishes from,
Mlada and Peter