On March 9 in Renton’s Carco Theater, the Ukrainian Association of Washington State sponsored a literary and musical evening dedicated to Shevchenko’s Anniversary. The audience had the opportunity to see a performance of “Nazar Stodolya” in three acts. So, despite the intense and tragic situation in Ukraine, the celebration of the 200th anniversary of our Great Kobzar’s birth took place in Seattle. During the course of the Season’s most holy days, one experienced the intense pressure just prior to the illegal referendum in Crimea. We were unsure and obviously unprepared for the events that were brewing.