You make some very good and enlightened observations, Ashdean. Thank you for sharing! Zenaida is just one example of people that left the glittering word of Imperial Russia and made a life for themselves elsewhere. It just makes one wonder if perhaps on some level some of these people were ultimately just as happy, or happier, than they might have been before. One would hope that despite the loss of great riches, Zenaida for example, had enough to live a comfortable, fulfilling life - despite the challenges that often come with old age, etc. I think there must be numerous untold stories of people that not only survived but thrived after the revolution. Also, there are those that lived just as well monetarily - but those stores are not often told as they do not have the "drama" factor
