Tempe, Arizona

Melissa

We are sitting on fallen trees in the Grand Canyon National Park, eating sandwiches. Beyond the trees, the canyon is visible. The Grand Canyon. A huge canyon, stretching to the horizon. A deep canyon—standing on the edge, it feels as if you are looking down at the earth from the sky, from a bird's-eye view.

Lunch on the edge of the Grand Canyon is one of the brightest moments of this summer.

• So, how do you like it? - Melissa asks. In Russian.
• Actually I had no idea that the Grand Canyon is SO GREAT!

Melissa and I met two years ago in Moscow. We didn't talk much, just saw each other occasionally. I was a bit surprised when she wrote to me that we definitely needed to stay in touch, and asked me to write to her in Russian because it was important for her not to forget the language. So we started our friendship mostly through correspondence, and got to know each other better only after Melissa moved back to the USA.

Melissa lives in one of the suburbs of Phoenix, Arizona. Six months ago, as soon as she found out about our trip to the USA, she posted a link to the Wikipedia article about the Grand Canyon on my Facebook wall. Back then, I didn't believe I would ever see it...

...And now, three months after returning, I can't believe I saw it.

This whole summer feels like something unreal, extraordinary, and distant. It feels that way until, in some conversation, you accidentally blurt out "Oh, stupid everything!" or "Everything, I don't wanna talk about it!" and also

"She's cranky"

"That's gross"

"That's harsh" and you remember that "it's so Melissa!" ))