On the rim of Utah's Devil's Canyon stood two men taking in the spectacular view of God's creation. He with binoculars, I with a camera.

He asked me if I had e-mail — I do.

Since his camera was broken, he asked me to take his picture and send him a copy — I did.

His accent was foreign, Eastern European perhaps. He introduced himself – Viktor Kirkou from near St. Petersburg, Russia. He emigrated in the early 1990s after the fall of the Soviet Union. Before the housing meltdown he was a successful realtor in Florida. Now he drives a truck.

The 1980s

Viktor was in the Soviet Army — tested nuclear weapons.

I was in the US Air Force — protected American military pilots from Soviet surface-to-air missiles.

We were warriors — glaring from opposite sides of the Iron Curtain.

Sep 5, 2010

Today we shake hands as friends — both lovers of the Freedom and Opportunity America offers.