The Finnish woman named Sari is back for another update to her story.
Ivalo, Finland, Wednesday, 25 February, 2004~
Hai! Miita kuulu! Kiitos Hyvaas?
This is Sari Annike Gustaffssenn again. I am writing from my little village here in Ivalo, Finland, to you in America; I miss Helvig, my friend from Finland who now lives there in America, and I also miss my friends I made when I was visiting your country, especially Louisiana Sandusky, who was like a little Angel to Helvig when he got hurt and had to have emergent care at hospital like place. (It was LIKE hospital, but it WASN'T hospital, no, not exactly.)
I have some sad news to pass along to you. My father, Pieter, died last week, and all I do now is cry. I miss my father so; his death was so sudden. His heart attacked him, and he died when he stopped breathing. They couldn't save him at hospital; and it seems all that my brothers--Johannes, Martin, Tove, Dierks, and Arne--and myself have done thusly is cry. We miss our father so much; it was so awful, and sad. Mother is beside herself with grief and worry, too, and she can't stop crying either. My father was 76 when he died. Mother is doing okay, but she is sad that her husband is gone; and now she worries what will become of our reindeer herd and who will take care of them now that Father is gone.
I heard from Louisiana Sandusky in America; she sent me a letter, which I got today; it was very nice to hear from her again. I read her book about her big family, and it is amazing that she even has time to take care of herself and have a JOB; I don't know how she finds time for herself, between her nursing job, her raising the children or her husband, AND writing a book! She MUST split herself in two or have a twin sister I don't know anything about....LOL She also sent me Christmas pictures of her kids, and they are all beautiful kids. I have the pictures sitting on my desk, and it is like they are watching me write. I wish I could have met them when I was in America, they seem like such special and beautiful little ones!
The auroras are brighter now; they are really lighting up our skies. They say the auroras are brightest in late winter to early spring and again in the fall; you don't see the auroras too much in the summer or later spring. I always love watching the auroras, they remind me of dancing fairies who do their magic across our skies; and they turn all sorts of beautiful colors. I am thinking of Louisiana's one daughter, Ronee'; she is aurora crazy (or so I have heard), so I may get her a book about the Northern Lights they have here. I will have to find a copy of the book in English, because I don't think little Ronee' speaks Finnish. Or DOES she? I can't remember...
I heard from Helvig, too, besides Louisiana; he is doing much better, and he is about healed now. He does have the cast off his arm, and he is able to dress himself, wash himself, and feed himself now. He is still a little bit weakened in the arm, but he can now do so much more for himself; but when I wrote him last, I told him to be careful and not to fall down any more stairs, and when he DOES go down the stairs, to turn on the light; next time he may not be so lucky. He may end up in hospital again with a busted everything....LOL
The weather here is cold and starry; the northern lights are out in full force tonight, and I wish I could send pictures to you in America, because you have NO idea how beautiful the lights are here. I hear they are almost as beautiful in Alaska as they are here; but I will have to go to Alaska and see if this is true for myself; still, I dare say that there is NOT a better place to see the Northern Lights than here in FINLAND or anywhere along the Artic Circle!!
Oh, shit...I have to scare off an elk; it seems that a HUGE ELK has wandered into my doorway! I was sitting here in the kitchen, and I heard a noise; and there is this HUGE, brown ELK staring at me! Be back and will write again in a minute, after I scare off Mr. ELK!
Okay! Am back. The elk has left; I scared him away, and now I can get back to finishing this before I go to bed. I don't know what he was thinking, but I hate to tell him that I don't have any elk food here! All I have is food for ME! Or for FRIENDS that visit me!
Anyway..what was I talking about?? Oh, yes! The Lights! And how beautiful they are!
Well, I have to go; it seems that the elk has ruined my train of thought. He startled me; I did NOT expect him to visit ME, Sari Annike Gustaffssenn! What did he think I had for him? Elk food? Or some BREAD?? (What DO elks eat?? LOL I know what REINDEER eat, but ELK? I have NO clue whatsoever!) I will write again soon; I also am still upset about Father's death, and I hear Mother in the other room, crying again. Have to make sure that she is okay...Until then, Nakemiin!
~Love, Sari Annike Gustaffsenn.
Want to review or comment on this short story?
Need a FREE Reader Membership?
Reviewed by Simon Thurlow
2/29/2004
Nice of you to let us know how some your story lines are getting on in life
Yankee Doodle Daddy is a historical Appalachian Family Saga. The story follows a mother's reckoning as she struggles to survive and keep her four daughters alive.
Yankee Doodle Daddy is a historical Appalachian Family Saga. The story follows a mother's reckoning as she struggles to survive and keep her four daughters alive.
Ivalo, Finland, Wednesday, 25 February, 2004~
