Lovely story about an immigrant gardener. I have known other immigrants who "downgraded" their professions when they came here. It does seem to come down to what Mr. Mshanetskiy says that you do what you must. But it makes me wistful and I wonder how much talent and training the human race loses to misery around the world....
I simply love you, Ridiculous Person 💖. Among all the sh...t going on all over the world, I can be sure that on Monday morning I will read something that affirms kindness, compassion, beauty, goodness (add more positive attributes) and humor! And I hope I'll look as good as Mr. Mshanetskiy's mother when I'm 81.
I know as a doctor Mr. Mshanetskiy used to do great work helping people, but it must be a joy to walk around town and know how much beauty he is adding to the place where he lives.
I loved this so much! I would never have guessed there was such a great story behind all those gorgeous window boxes. And a secret shed on Hicks street?! I love it. Also--I get lots of doctors from West Africa in my community college classroom. It's nuts.
I remember a school trip to NYC where I was introduced to the bialy at the legendary Kossar’s bagels & bialys. I still dream about that pillowy, oniony delight
Anne! Your stories are like a warm hug to the heart. Always so interesting, fun to read and brings brightness to the world! What a wonderful story, really enjoyed it! Thank you again!
Love this! But I was intrigued by the mention of Mr. Mshanetskiy "sourcing" his rocks -- where does he get those? Where does he get all the plants? How did he learn to tap into the world of wholesale flora?
"Parking attendant is a difficult job—you have to pull out eight cars to get to the one. Some cars you have to climb in through the window because they're packed so close to each other. ‘So funny!’ I said. ‘Not when you're climbing through the window,’ he said.”
Recently I drove by a surface lot that had cars practically touching each other and I thought it had the purpose of fitting more cars on the lot WITH the added benefit of preventing theft.
I always wondered why my HS girlfriend’s mom asked me if I had a job as a parking attendant? I guess because if you can get into a car through a window, you prolly can get into…...................trouble!
Thank you for the bialy follow-up! I’ve always wondered why non-Jewish friends are super comfortable with bagels, but baffled by the bialy. I think the story behind Lender’s marketing campaign explains it. For the record, I’m still team bagel, but I do feel a little more connected to my roots when I get a bialy.
Brooklyn Heights window box game is unparalleled. Love waking around the neighborhood and checking them out. Nice to put a face (and an amazing story) to the flowers!
Anne -- (1) Thanks for the bialy exposé. I am often disappointed when I ask if the bagels were hand-rolled (b/c of you) and have always instinctively known when they are baked without boiling -- just not shiny enough. I may abandon my obsession with the bialy now. (2) The heart in you shined through in introducing us to Mr. Mshanetskiy. We build everything conceivable and impulsively want to possess more stuff. I think it is interesting that what the most modest to conspicuous of consumers have in common is a bit of nature in their lives. Most of all Serhiy rebuilt himself and sounds as if he has left a mark on a WHOLE SECTION OF NYC -- wow. A story about flowers reminds me to wonder how the rubber plant is doing?
The Window Box King of the Heights!
Lovely story about an immigrant gardener. I have known other immigrants who "downgraded" their professions when they came here. It does seem to come down to what Mr. Mshanetskiy says that you do what you must. But it makes me wistful and I wonder how much talent and training the human race loses to misery around the world....
Anne, I've been reading you since you started but I have to say I think this is the best one you ever published. Congrats!
Mr. Mshanetskiy is simply wonderful. I love him. I love this story. I love you for writing it. It made me smile brightly. Thank you.
I simply love you, Ridiculous Person 💖. Among all the sh...t going on all over the world, I can be sure that on Monday morning I will read something that affirms kindness, compassion, beauty, goodness (add more positive attributes) and humor! And I hope I'll look as good as Mr. Mshanetskiy's mother when I'm 81.
I know as a doctor Mr. Mshanetskiy used to do great work helping people, but it must be a joy to walk around town and know how much beauty he is adding to the place where he lives.
I loved this so much! I would never have guessed there was such a great story behind all those gorgeous window boxes. And a secret shed on Hicks street?! I love it. Also--I get lots of doctors from West Africa in my community college classroom. It's nuts.
I remember a school trip to NYC where I was introduced to the bialy at the legendary Kossar’s bagels & bialys. I still dream about that pillowy, oniony delight
Anne! Your stories are like a warm hug to the heart. Always so interesting, fun to read and brings brightness to the world! What a wonderful story, really enjoyed it! Thank you again!
Love this! But I was intrigued by the mention of Mr. Mshanetskiy "sourcing" his rocks -- where does he get those? Where does he get all the plants? How did he learn to tap into the world of wholesale flora?
"Parking attendant is a difficult job—you have to pull out eight cars to get to the one. Some cars you have to climb in through the window because they're packed so close to each other. ‘So funny!’ I said. ‘Not when you're climbing through the window,’ he said.”
Recently I drove by a surface lot that had cars practically touching each other and I thought it had the purpose of fitting more cars on the lot WITH the added benefit of preventing theft.
I always wondered why my HS girlfriend’s mom asked me if I had a job as a parking attendant? I guess because if you can get into a car through a window, you prolly can get into…...................trouble!
I love everything about this story.
Thank you for the bialy follow-up! I’ve always wondered why non-Jewish friends are super comfortable with bagels, but baffled by the bialy. I think the story behind Lender’s marketing campaign explains it. For the record, I’m still team bagel, but I do feel a little more connected to my roots when I get a bialy.
Brooklyn Heights window box game is unparalleled. Love waking around the neighborhood and checking them out. Nice to put a face (and an amazing story) to the flowers!
Anne -- (1) Thanks for the bialy exposé. I am often disappointed when I ask if the bagels were hand-rolled (b/c of you) and have always instinctively known when they are baked without boiling -- just not shiny enough. I may abandon my obsession with the bialy now. (2) The heart in you shined through in introducing us to Mr. Mshanetskiy. We build everything conceivable and impulsively want to possess more stuff. I think it is interesting that what the most modest to conspicuous of consumers have in common is a bit of nature in their lives. Most of all Serhiy rebuilt himself and sounds as if he has left a mark on a WHOLE SECTION OF NYC -- wow. A story about flowers reminds me to wonder how the rubber plant is doing?
Heartwarmer.....needed that! And loved all the photos that accompanied the story 🤩
Brooklyn Heights and bialys! Ms. Kadet, you’ve done it again.