Riverboat Trip on the Volga is a month away

Dear Ones:

Your grandma and her (relatively new) husband fly to St. Petersburg next month, hop on a riverboat, and cruise down the Volga (by way of a few lakes) to Moscow. You know what? I won't believe it until I'm on that ship.
Because I have long been a predictor of things, I believe that the Russkies won't let us off the plane (or later, the boat) because of the Swine Flu. Look how the Chinese quarantined an American group, and the Russians could do it, too. I also think I could meet my maker, via a heart attack or an auto accident, before I ever leave California. That wouldn't be a really bad thing,but I would prefer to see the Amber Room in the Summer Palace first.
Since travel inducements are everywhere, we got a twofer on the trip. So we're dipping into our meagre capital. So what!
I am perusing catalogs for packable items and planning, planning, just like I thought I was going to be there. But I don't. It's too exciting. It will never happen.Your grandma just isn't going to be this lucky.
I know. I was similarly doubtful before I took myself to Malta. Ditto, Rome. The fact that I actually got to those places should strengthen my belief.
If I do, I'll take pictures. And eat borscht. And cabbage. And,God willing, caviar.