To Julia, Charlie and Andrew

Dear Julia, Charlie and Andrew,

I do want to write to each one of you, the problem is I just can't do it yet.

For over two weeks now I've been feeling like a totally retarded person: words fail me in any language and situation. I seem to have been entirely drained from good reason, normal thinking and eloquence; I swing from one mood into another, I don't want to talk to people, nor do I want to see anyone. I still feel I don't live outside THE BLOG, my days still begin and end with it and the new community of friends-of-Mara, and my energy is probably still flowing that way, leaving me totally unable to be anything else and do anything else. But I do know you will very well understand.

Julia and Charly, you are so much part of the Bulgarian clan and I so much want to get in touch with you and resume contacts (Julia, we're so close, even geographically, now!), but I'm sorry I am not up to it yet. I am so absent-minded I keep leaving umbrellas, hats, cardigans and other items at places I go, never remembering where exactly. Right now I am not sure which blog I am writing this comment in - I got so entangled, as if my poor computer skills were not enough... Within a year and a half I lost three dear people - my cousin, 50, my friend's mother (who was like a mother to me) and now Mara. There seems to be a gruesome tendency of those deceased being closer and closer friends, I am afraid to even think... In the meantime, I went through two major surgeries, the radio I used to work for got closed down and Lyudmil was given a by-pass (?).

I hope I get a life soon, though. And I know Mara will somehow, again, get ready for communication sooner than any of us, again putting us to shame. Be strong, my friends, and we'll get in touch later.

Julia, please say hi to your mom - I adore her, just like I adore you!

Love to you all, and may Mara's spirit be with you!

Zlatna

Remembering Mara

Dear All,
Just a reminder of the new blog's name that Henrietta has started! It's "Remembering Mara".

New Blog Dedicated to Mara!

Dear Friends of Mara, dear "Co-bloggies" from Mara and David's Blog!

Henrietta Cosentino (aka Bunyeta) has started a new blog dedicated to Mara and those of you who have pictures of Mara are kindly invited to share them on the new blog! The website is: http://rememberingmara.blogspot.com/ and you can log in by using friend.Mara@yahoo.com as your address, and "Galaty100" as your pass-word.

That was great of you, Henrietta, thanks so much!

Hugs and kisses,
Zlatna

Mara at the Fans' Rock'n'Roll Club, 2005

MaraBlog

MaraBlog

Picture of Mara on her blog!!!

Dear Carol, dear David, dear family and friends,

What a beautiful picture of Mara!!! What a wonderful picture! Thank you so much for putting it up for all of us who are so far away in body, and so close to you in spirit, all of us who won't soon run out of the habit of logging in on that blog. I hope Mara's soul is at peace!

I am ordering prints of pictures of Mara to make a big picture for my wall, so I can always look at her - in good times and bad times - the way I have always felt, the way she has always been - around.
Thank you for still sharing your feelings with us! May God bless you!
Love,
Zlatna

Mara in Sofia, 2005

Mara in Sofia, 2005

Mara on RFE, Sofia, 2005

Mara on Radio Free Europe, Sofia, 2005

Mara on Radio Free Europe Show, 2005

Mara on Zlatna's show on Radio Free Europe in Sofia, 2005. This was Mara's first interview on the show, in which she spoke about fighting cancer in fluent Bulgarian. Her second interview was taken last year, when I was in D.C. Then she was getting ready to leave for Amman. Little did we know at that time about the evil that was in store for us, and we were still so happy! Mara, my darling, you are ALWAYS with me!