Good Riddance

We lived in that flat in Aluksne for almost two more years. I think our last home improvement there was procuring a washing machine which at the time was an enormous luxury. Prior to that, I would usually do laundry by hand in the bathtub, and once in a while we would send our laundry out for some old lady to do, but that wasn’t my preference because it took too long, the clothes would smell funny, and they would be rough and hard.


We left Aluksne for Riga, Latvia’s capital and when we shut the door on that flat for the last time I didn’t look back. Even though I’d thrown myself into making that flat a haven for my family, Aluksne was a very hard place to live, and it was easy to let go of all that effort. This was odd for me. Usually I get much more attached, but good riddance was all I could think of.

I’m sure that old Soviet block apartment is still standing, and not until today have I ever wondered who has lived in and hopefully enjoyed the work and love put into that flat.