I woke up remembering that today is the meeting with the family. My heart felt so warm. Tolya is on duty, making breakfast; I’m setting up the TV lights and assembling the equipment. And here we are, meeting with you again, my dear ones. I looked at them, and something squeezed in my heart — it will be a long time before I see them. They brought branches of blossoming apple tree. My clever girl. Vitalik and Lyusya are dressed for summer; it’s hard to believe that somewhere people are out for walks, smelling flowers, swimming, sunbathing. The day stirred me up. For the first time today I felt genuinely sad. But away with sadness — there’s still a long way to fly. All right, time to sleep. Tomorrow is work, and that too is happiness — watch the Earth, study it, think, and reflect on your own. How long until I see you, my dear ones.
Diary of a Cosmonaut