Russian arms

We refer to them as our "Russian arms", although they hold equal weight as bat-wing arms. The geographical specificity ties them to us and is our term of endearment. We never thought we'd have them. It was the provenance of our aunts, our grandmothers, our mother. The arms that swing out from under us, and support the endless hangers on.The arms that are pinched by our children who then make fun of us and yet lovingly hold on for dear life- what would they do without them? These are not the arms of the athletic. No, they belong to the book-loving, flower gathering, piano playing sisters. Sisters who nurture all who come near. Except themselves. You can't swing from your own arms and we would not dare try to swing from each other's.