Where and when. This happened at a graduation in the Kremlin, June 23, 2008

The Prehistory. That Irina Rodnina is our great figurist, I knew. But to my shame, I didn’t know what she looked like.

So is it. They are all in the Alexandrovsky garden, already built in a series. An MTV filming group arrives, many people run out to take interviews. I almost give in to the general stream, I go out, and I think: what is the probability that I will be allowed on the air? And if they let it go, I don’t watch MTV. I see – they are standing in the distance, talk Fursenko (Minister of Education of the Russian Federation) and Rodnina (which I did not recognize). I approach, I ask Furs: may I talk to you? He says, it can be. Now you have to imagine the reaction of the repeated champion of various competitions in figure skating, when I give her a phone and ask: "Please take a picture"... :D

I calmly come back to work, and five minutes later they ask me, “Did you see a parent?” I say no, but where is she? They answer: out, with Fursenko stands. I think that’s what she smiled so much... :) Second 30 just stumbled over herself, then I thought – what, will I surrender when there’s another opportunity? Again I go out, I go, I approach Fursenko, I give him the phone and again - take a picture, please! He laughs in his voice, but shoots me with my mother’s curtains :)