Thanking Miss Eudora

I did not know that I would have an opportunity to see Miss Welty face to face and talk with her. for me it was the real icing on her birthday cake. I wasn't prepared. When I approached Eudora she was seated in a chair and looked tiny. I hated to tower over her, so I went on my knees in front of her. When later on I told about this to a Russian Orthodox priest he said that this exactly how Russian priests talk to their Archbishops. Wow! My instinct was right: she was a patriarch of American letters! I told Eudora Welty that her stories and The Optimist's Daughter are translated into Russian and I also thanked her for the book she autographed for me. She was gracious, friendly, very open and warm. The day stays out in my memory very clearly and once again I am grateful - to those who organised the party and invited everyone, to Eudora Welty who was willing to make a public appearance and of course to my beloved Barbara without whom I would have never ever celebrated Miss Welty's 85th birthday with her. What a blessing!