My Mikhail Gorbachev Story

[Danmel]

In 2002 or thereabouts, we took our kids, 11 and 7, to see Mamma Mia! the ABBA musical, for Kid's Night on Broadway. We were seated in the first row in the balcony, watching people come into the theater. So, this gentleman walks in, surrounded by an entourage, big birthmark on his forehead, and takes a seat in the orchestra. My husband and I looked at each other and immediately realized it was Gorbachev! So we point him out to the kids, and said "That's Mikhail Gorbachev, the former Premier of the Soviet Union!"
Our daughter, who was born the year of the dissolution of the Soviet Union, looked at me, puzzled and said "What's the Soviet Union?" Boy did I feel old.
At the end of the show, the cast performed a mini Abba concert. And there he was, the head of the Evil Empire, boogying in the aisle to "Dancing Queen."

[greatauntoftriplets]

1. I'm chuckling at the idea of Gorbachev going to see Mamma Mia!

How nice that he enjoyed it enough to dance in the aisles. He was the only Russian/Soviet leader I've ever respected in my life. And I'm old enough to remember Khrushchev, though I was a kid at the time.

[vapor2]

2. My girlfriend and I saw him in Las Vegas

years ago. They had such a response to his appearance that they had to move the venue and although he could speak English he had a translator. I am sure you just felt his remarkable presence as I did.

[luvs2sing]

3. My ex-FIL bore a striking resemblance to Gorbachev..

minus the birthmark. It was noticeable enough that my coworkers teased me about my famous Russian FIL for months after seeing our wedding pictures.

[Grasswire2]

4. My Gorbachev story

I was in the protest at Lafayette Park on the cold winter night that Gorby dined with Ronald Reagen in the WH at a gala, gala state dinner. Walking with others, candle wax dripping on my wool coat as we walked. Here's one of the chants:

Gorby is a weenie!
Gorby is a weenie!

I remember seeing the lights through the WH windowq. I remember watching his limo leave, afterwards.

Gee, that was a long time ago.

[AwakeAtLast]

5. Mamma Mia is 20 years old?

Now I feel old!