In the midst of us all getting into the Nutcracker spirit, I came across a wonderful post that our Wardrobe Assistant, Emily Cavasar, wrote on her facebook.  I got a kick out of it and loved being reminded of how each department has their own Nut preparations and asked her permission to repost on theWinger.

Enjoy! And merde to all getting started on their Nutcracker run!

photo is also courtesy of Emily Cavasar

The Nutcracker Prince’s boots were in much need of repair. I thought they just needed replacing. However, as Alexey is one for repairing things until they die before he will consider buying new, he decides to teach me darning in order to save the boots.

Darning is a tedious handstitching skill not in high demand these days. It is time consuming as all get out and is not, as Alexey described to me, “a stress reducer.” Until this point in time, I have not been taught nor needed to know how to darn.

He gets me started, explains the basics and leaves me to it. “It will take you hour,” he says in his stern Russian accent. Every few minutes he checks on my progress. This part of learning new skills with him makes me very nervous. My body becomes tense and I begin to scrutinize every stitch.

His perfectionist eye glares over my shoulder at each stitch. “Hmmm…is looking very good. You know in Russia I am learning this skill at ballet school.”

“Oh, really?”

“Of course! We are not having budget for lots of shoes. You are only getting few pair of shoes and you need to make them last, especially since we are dancing on wooden floors. So, when you get new shoes you darn them. This will make shoes last month or so. You will see.”

He then walks away. This is his way. Small glimmers of his life as a Russian dancer slowly emerge…mostly when I am doing well at something he has taught me. It is an honor. My darning tension has lessened.

I now fly, or what feels like flying, through the project and finish off the last of my stitching on one boot. Time check. An hour and a half! Ugh! I am the slowest darner in the world! He said it would take an hour!

Finished boot in hand, I walk over to Alexey’s desk for a stamp of approval on my work.

“Is very nice work. Good job. See, you learn new skill today. Now you will be able to survive next Great Depression.”

Then he gets on the phone, and orders new boots.