Friday I went to get the mail and saw an envelope from another country. This is not uncommon as I have family in 22 countries around the world. What made this letter much different from all others I had ever received is that it was from Russia. My excitement started before I ever opened the envelope, because I was already suspicious as to the sender.I have known for years about Firkowski family in Russia and had addresses. For many years now, I have sent cards out to those in Russia at Christmas time and never received anything in return. I was not going to give up in hopes that someday I would receive a response. THAT DAY ARRIVED!
I waited until I was in the house to open the letter, but even before I opened it, I was giddy as a schoolboy! Upon opening the letter, I found 3 pieces - 1 letter in English (with a note in
Russian at the end) dated 23 February 2009, 1 letter in Russian dated 24 February 2012 along with the front of an envelope dated 12 March 2009.The letter in English explained that this woman was a the widow of a man from Berestechko, Ukraine (at one time Poland). I was VERY familiar with this town, because there are many family groups around the world with the same ancestral point with no conclusive data to join them all together. Supposedly the records are gone from the church. She was able to supply a few pieces of information that may hold the key to bring at least some more of the family together even though she downplays what she knows as anything significant. As researchers we all know that sometimes the smallest bit of information can reap the greatest rewards.
Seeing the different dates on the letter and the copy of the original envelope and picking out some things she wrote in Russian I soon came to realize what had happened. She had written my address wrong (actually it was not even my address, but some information from the business card I had sent her). The mail obviously did not get to me and was returned. I have no idea how long it had spent in Postal limbo land, but she finally resent the letter 3 years after the original had been sent. So now the 3 year journey of this letter is complete & a lesson can be learned - NEVER GIVE UP!