Hello!  My name is Helvig Erich Gustaffsenn.  I live in Nashville, Tennessee now; I am originally from Ivalo, Finland, where I lived most of my life until four years ago or so.  Moved to America to get a better job, more opportunity for myself.

I am married; I am married to a wonderful girl named Bahiri.  Met her at the store several years ago; she and I have been madly in love ever since.  We have a little boy, aged 1, who is named Gunther Helvig (you can see where he got his middle name from!  LOL).  He is the light of our lives; he is everything to both Bahiri and myself. 

Bahiri is originally from Kenya, Africa.  As you can tell, she is black; you notice that right away when you first see her; yet I think she is gorgeous:  so exotic looking.  I don't have any problem with her being a black woman; I still see her as my wife; the color of her skin (as well as mine) should not matter!  What should matter is the fact in how much we love each other!

In any event, Gunther looks a lot like his mama, but with my coloring.  He does have dark brown eyes though; he is a very handsome young child!  He's also very smart:  he is talking and walking, getting into everything; one can't be too careful with him around!  LOL

I am still working at the store; worked there for over two years now.  I manage the men's department; it's a challenge, but I love meeting the customers and seeing all the new merchandise coming in. 

My wife, Bahiri, meanwhile, stays at home, where she raises our toddler son.

We would like to have more children, but right now, Gunther Helvig is all we have.

I still keep in contact with Sari and her family.  She is doing quite well, even with having multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, and other health problems.  They still live in Ivalo, Finland, where I lived before I came to America.  She stays home with the children (they have three now:  two little girls, and a smaller boy) while Nikolas, her husband, works as many as five/six days a week, just so they can have enough money to put food on their table and provide for the children.

I miss Sari and her brothers; if I see them more than once a year I am lucky.  Hopefully this year they will come for Christmas; I would love to see her again and meet her husband and kids!  I'd also love to see her brothers!

The weather here in Nashville is iffy:  rainy and cold one day, sunny and mild the next.  It's getting to where you don't know what the weather is going to do from one minute to the next!  At least in Finland, you knew most of the time what it was going to do!

I miss the snow-capped mountains and the northern lights.  You don't see the lights very often here; if you do, it is a rare event.  When the lights do make an appearance this far south, it always makes the news.  We do have mountains here where I live, but they're nothing like what I skied on as a child or young man!  The mountains here are just small hills!  LOL

I do love where I live:  the people are friendly enough, and it's a pretty decent city to make a living.  At least I have gainful employment and can provide for my family, and not worry so much about bills, what I am going to wear, or if I am going to have enough food to feed my family.

Well, I have to go.  Bahiri is calling me; Helvig fell; he's screaming his head off.  Have to see if he's okay.  I will write in here again soon; until then, take care!

~Helvig E. Gustaffssenn.  :)