That is Priceless by Steve Melcher for February 24, 2022

My original post from 2015:

What happens when you ask your brother-in-law to book a moving van.

Ukraine, 2022

/// When invasions begin there is shootin’,

and then killin’ and rapin’ and lootin’.

Refugees hit the road

From Their Homes which explode,

thanks to 45’s “genius” pal Putin.

This painting depicts the classic Russian military strategy: ‘Retreat, and wait for winter’.

“Hey, Pavel, what time is it?” “It’s time to emigrate”

Dad said they would keep marching until the clock strikes 10. Of course the clock never struck 10.

so much for defunding the KGB eh Boris!

“Vrooom! Beep, beep!”

Mr. Putin quite well understands/

That his nukes tie America’s hands/

And that scenes like this, here/

Are within Russia’s sphere:/

He can blithely ignore all demands ..

“The Things They Carried”

Ukraine,as they’ve always known/

Is destined to go it alone/

For Europe’s “great powers”/

Have sent cards and flowers:/

“Good luck, kid – you’re on your own !”

ukrainians taking a hike ahead of the russians taking their country…

Time to get a mantle clock.

Standing in his driveway Fred smiled. Yes, his garage sale had been a great success

Is this a retreat or a pogrom?

See https://russiatrek.org/blog/society/russia-in-1917-1919-the-paintings-of-ivan-vladimirov/, “Peasants return home after looting a manor house somewhere near Pskov”. Sounds like it might be a translation of the Russian title. Scroll down to item 28.

One of the younger, stronger kids offered to carry it but he said no, it’s a grandfather clock.

Tim’s Timely Tours were nothing fancy, but they had received the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval.

He might be a timekeeper waiting for someone to clock in.

Tired of Cookie’s forgetfulness, Petrov was making sure that their lunch break occurred at twelve, noon, on the dot.

Pink Floyd’s roadies – the lean, early years. Time was a particularly tough song to perform on the road – so far as the roadies were concerned anyway.

That’s the Chairman of the Board coming up behind.

I swear I hate being a snowbird – north in summer, south in winter & having to carry all our household items each time. Why can’t we just either pick a spot & stay all year long or buy goods for both homes. (Which is why I refuse to be a snowbird – like some people I know.)

The day’s rejects at the patent office included the upside down chair, the grandfather clock with the built-in pedometer, and the phonograph that plays oblong aluminum records.

From their homes: 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ivan_Vladimirov_from-their-homes.jpg!HD.jpg 

has info and links that point to more info about this circa 1918, watercolor on paper painting.

A slightly larger strip image is shown by (Ctrl- or right-) clicking the image at 

https://thatispricelessblog.com/2022/02/masterpiece-1254 

and using the dropdown menu. I have added a comment there (awaiting Mr. Melcher’s approval) pointing to the blog entry with the artist info I used to point to here. So far 22 works, by this artist, have been used here (3 times total, including this Throwback Thursday). 

https://www.gocomics.com/that-is-priceless/2015/07/13?comments=visible 

has the first time this was used here (the 14 hyperlinks in my comment there have been deactivated, and the line breaks removed, but perhaps the text remains informative).

Yes son, I played the grandfather clock in marching band, let me tell you, unwise choice.

small group leaving Ukraine and going to Poland, not a big improvement

During harsh winter in Ukraine, Soviet soldier knocks on old woman’s door. Peering out crack of her door, old woman asks “Да?” Soviet soldier: "Бабушка, borders have changed. You now live in Poland. Old woman sighs, “Oh, winters there are so cold!”

There should be a Starbucks just up ahead. We can take a break then.

/// Ancient Fiers trudged off, ill and in shock,

burdened under Ranevsky’s old clock.

The ex-servants grabbed loot,

(plus a musket to shoot),

and a few rubles stuffed in a sock.

/// Now the orchard was being chopped down,

as the looters walked miles into town.

They would pawn what they stole,

because “Life’s just a bowl

of cherry juice ruining a gown.”