Calamity Jan and the Russian
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
Glass partitions separated those of us in the outer waiting area from the immigration waiting lines at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. I scanned the lines moving slowly through security, watching for the face I'd seen only from photographs. Suddenly I saw him moving closer to the final gate. I braced myself against a person or a wall (I can't remember), hoping I had the strength to keep from fainting. (i)It's him. Oh God, it's him..() I can't remember anything else, except that he was slender and dark like his pictures and his eyes were blue. Baltic blue. He smiled and walked toward me, his chestnut-brown hair illumined by the glare of glass and lights from the security platform above. (i) God, I'm going to faint...() But I didn't. He set his hand-held luggage down and we embraced, then drew back and faced each other. His blue eyes didn't hold mine as I'd dreamed they would at our first meeting. There was no spiritual connection. None. Nothing. I reeled, listening to his charming accent, listening to his words fall like broken glass on the hard tile beneath our feet. I tried to speak, but my words jammed against the back of my throat. What was wrong? Was he nervous? Afraid? (i)Disappointed?() He was good-looking, charming, energetic, but it was as though I was in the presence of a stranger from Siberia. Suddenly I wanted to run. Did he feel the same? (i)His eyes are empty. Cold.() Where was the man I'd been corresponding with for over a year--the man I'd begun to love through his ender, poetic letters? (i)Valentin, where are you? () I cried out in anguished silence, feeling a wall that was colder and more ominous than the Iron Curtain. We walked toward the baggage claim; his wide smile, charming Russian accent and animated demeanor helped in a way, but once we gathered his luggage and entered the parking garage, the truth hit like a slb of gray cement. (i)This Russian man--this stranger--is coming home with me and I'm not sure I'm ready for this.() Had we both made a terrible mistake? (i) Oh God, what have I done?(i)
Formats
Book Details
About the Book
“Calamity Jan and the Russian” is a deeply personal and emotionally resonant memoir that chronicles Jan Pierson’s cross-cultural love story with Valentin Gudkov, a Russian physicist nine years her junior. This raw and honest narrative explores the complexities of a Russian-American marriage, navigating cultural clashes, misaligned expectations, and the transformative journey of self-discovery through love and loss. When a 61-year-old American woman opens her heart and home to a darkly handsome Russian, East meets West in an earthy, humorous, and profoundly human collision. Through poetic letters, candid reflections, and unflinching honesty, Pierson invites readers into an emotional journey that transcends borders, age, and doubt. This is not just a love story, it’s a testament to resilience, forgiveness, and the courage to embrace life’s late afternoon miracles.
About the Author
Jan Pierson, also known as Calamity Jan, is an accomplished international author of seventeen books with a distinguished career as a writer, educator, and storyteller. Holding a degree in psychology and criminal justice from The Evergreen State College, she has been a teacher and presenter in both the United States and Europe. As a former writing instructor with The Institute of Children’s Literature, she has dedicated her career to inspiring young readers through her ghost town mystery series while also captivating audiences with heartfelt narratives drawn from personal experience. Based in Olympia, Washington, at the foot of Puget Sound, Pierson is a mother, grandmother, and lifelong learner who continues to embrace life’s challenges with courage and grace. Her work blends humor, resilience, and deep introspection, weaving personal stories with universal themes of love, forgiveness, and growth.