I feel the need to be transparent about something that has recently caused me sleepless nights and extreme psychological distress. It is possible that I may have colluded with the Russians!

Back in the 1980s, during the Reagan administration, I worked closely with two high-profile Russians: Mstislav Rostropovich and Galina Vishnevskaya. And our interaction was in Washington, D.C., at the Kennedy Center! We had private meetings, and they shared many secrets with me. I have at least five opera scores – in Russian – in the bowels of my basement. Oh, yes, and three symphonies.

I have had several meetings and close encounters at the Metropolitan Opera with top Russian opera stars, and I have even eaten dinner with them! I learned Russian from a retired Russian CIA agent who lived in the USA. My accompanist-coach was a Russian pianist who studied in the former Leningrad.

Further disclosure: I have Russian sage in my garden, Russian painted boxes directly from Russia; I have authentic painted Easter eggs and a gold and diamond enameled egg necklace. I even have Russian dressing and, yes, Stolichnaya vodka in my pantry.

It’s true – I gave money to the Trump campaign. I hope I’m not in big trouble.

Elizabeth Printy

Damariscotta