A shout-out to my homies

I was in Kharkiv for a two-day work trip, which was enough time for me to familiarize myself again with the city center. I was in Kharkiv seven years ago visiting the old Peace Corps gang here, but didnt remember much except for the huge Soviet-style square in the city center. A statue of Lenin still stands...ah, Lenin...you once initiated the most important events in the 20th century...now 12-year old kids in go-karts zoom around in front of you.

I love this time of year back home and here, so I look forward to these trips that always happen in October. After finishing up the days work, I went to the large park in the city center to relax for a while before I grabbed dinner. I went back to a lovely area at the back of the park where there are two levels of fountains, looking out on a view of the city. The sun was setting, I was enjoying the cool autumn air, a slightly warm beer, and the lovely view of the sunset above the urban landscape of Kharkiv. I switched my music to Joy Division, which I find one of the most appropriate groups to listen to for an urban landscape. The music oozes with an industrial, robotic, somewhat tinny, character that comes straight out of Manchester, England. So there I was looking at the sunset and watching a few couples make-up (this still cracks me up) when I took closer notice to the guy next to me, who was drinking a beer and smoking a cigarrette. He had a beard, which is somewhat rare here, and a nice briefcase. He looked to be about my age and seemed also to enjoy the view. A few minutes later, a bird flew up above us and by us, and the bearded man lifted up his beer, gestured toward the sky/bird, and poured out the last remaining part of the beer. He left the bottle on the ledge, turned around, and walked away. A very beautiful and unique moment. A daily memorial to a dead loved one? A shout out to his homies? Whatever it is, it made my evening.