Sari Annike in Finland updates us on what is going on in her world.
Friday, 22 June, 2007, Ivalo, Finland~
Dear Journal~
Terve! Miitu kuuluu? Kiitos hyvaa!
It's me. Sari Annike. We are still in Finland as I write this. Usually by now we're settled in our home in Athens, Greece (where my husband, Nikolas, is originally from), but this year we decided to stay put in Finland. We are waiting until our two children (Birtta Aurora, who is now 14 months, and our newborn son, Erik Karlssenn,w ho is but a few months old now) are older. It's too much work to move anyway, but especially with two tiny children in tow.
Nik is working at a petrol station, trying to make some extra money; he works long hours; he is hardly home. I am usually home with the children; my brothers or neighbors stop in regularly to give me help if I need it. (I usually do.) I am too busy (not to mention, too disabled) to hold down a regular job.
My health is good some days, worse on others. With my MS you don't know one day to the next how the symptoms are going to manifest themselves; it's too unpredictable. In addition to the MS I also have fibromyalgia, which causes pain in my muscles all over my body. As my doctor explained it to me, it's like having arthritis of the muscles; it's what it feels like, anyway.
I still hear from my friends Helvig Gustaffssenn and Louisiana Sandusky in America. Helvig is still with his girlfriend, Bahiri, and they are engaged to be married (sometime in the spring of 2008). Louisiana, meanwhile, is several months pregnant and is still very busy raising her northern lights family. She also is busy working at hospital, where she is a registered nurse. They are both doing great, which pleases me.
Yesterday was the start of summer; we have a huge celebration here in Finland replete with band concerts, fireworks, and different events that last through the late night. Nik took the day off, so we were able to go to the festival. We had a lot of fun, and I got sunburnt. I look like a boiled crab! LOL
Today the weather is raining; supposed to clear up later tonight. Tomorrow's forecast: sunny and very pleasant, temperatures in the upper sixties to lower seventies. My kind of weather.
The northern lights are gone now until the fall; until then only the sun will light up our skies until the days start getting shorter (August usually signals the start of the shortening of our days; it gets darker here earlier than in most parts of the world; it's one of the many quirks that living in the Arctic region is famous for).
Well, journal, I am going to close. Baby Erik is screaming to have his nappy changed, and Birtta is screaming to be fed her lunch. Today it's hot dogs and potato chips. Until later, this is Sari saying Nakemiin!
The journal once again leave a lesson in geography! Wonderful write my friend! Keep up the great work. I'm glad to hear everyone is doing fine!! Take care!
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.
Exploring the impact of literary icon Flannery O'Connor's noted legacy on the cultural realities of modern-day America, the world, and a certain author.
