Hai! Miita kuuluu? Kiitos hyvaas!

This is Ilsa Elke Rekkonen writing. I am a friend of Sari Gustaffssenn's (now she is a Constantinos; she is married now), and I am still working at university in Helsinki. I spend my off days in the village that is my home, Ivalo, which is a goodly distance from Helsinki. I have been good friends with Sari for several years now, and I miss seeing her. Oh, I talk to her on the phone (have talked to her husband, too), but it is nothing like seeing her in person.

Last I heard, Sari has been sick. She has fibromyalgia, and she has been having problems with pain and muscle weakness. I do hope that she is doing okay! I really don't keep in regular contact with her all that much because I work so many hours at university, and I am still trying to save up money to go. It has been a long, hard struggle.

I still like to go skiing, and I still like to take walks in the evenings. I also like to sit in the sauna and think about life. I am a pretty active preson, and I think my life is pretty good.

I have been watching the Olympics on television, and I am not certain, but I swear I saw Sari on television during the hockey game against U.S.A. and Finland (it is still going on; Finland is leading 3-2). I think they may be there, because I have tried to call them, but there has been no answer. I do hope nothing is wrong with Sari! It isn't like her not to call me or keep in touch. We talk at least several times a week; now it has been at least a MONTH or so since I last heard from her! I am starting to get worried---

I wish Sari would get in touch with me. I miss her, and I miss the good times we had together. We would go shopping every week, and we would also go take in a movie. Now ever since she has been married, I don't hear from her all that much, and I don't have her phone number (I don't think she is living at her place anymore, with her parents). I don't know if her parents are ALIVE because I have tried to call the Gustaffssenn place, and an unfamiliar voice answers, and he tells me that there is no such person living there. So either Sari moved away to be with her husband, or else she got hurt or died. I don't really know; and it is starting to scare me!

Well, I have made myself depressed, so I am going to go now. I might as well try to cheer myself up by watching the rest of that hockey game at the Olympics and cheer Finland on to victory. Right now, they are beating the Americans, and they are proving to be a tough apponant to them (the Finns, NOT the Americans). Maybe they will win; if so, the Finns will have a shot for the gold medal, and that would be very good for Finland, indeed!

I will write in here again. Hopefully by then I will have heard from Sari again---Until later, Nakemiin!

~Written by Ilsa Rekkonen, Sari Constantinos' friend.

P.S.: Fahh! The AMERICANS won. They beat Finland 7-3!! I guess that takes us out of the gold medal round--DARN!! I bet Sari is going to be so disappointed; she was really hoping that Finland would win against the Americans! Too bad! Well, I am REALLY drpressed now, so I guess I am going to go to bed. Good night!