Washington, D.C., July 3, 2010~

Dear Journal~

Terve!  Miita kuuluu?  Kiitos hyvaa!

It is I, Sari Annike Constantinos, writing.  I, my husband (Nik), and our three children (Erick, Birtta, and Ilsa Margarita) are in the United States of America, visiting some friends that live here.  We've been here a week; we're now in Washington, D.C., the capital city of this wonderful nation I have come to love so much besides our native Finland, where we live.

Tomorrow is America's birthday.  Independence Day, it's called.  The Americans will celebrate it with parades, festivals, music of all kinds, balloons, tributes to their military men and women, and of course, fireworks, which is probably one of the biggest draws of the holiday.  The Fourth of July is one of America's major holiday celebrations (others include Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, Mother's Day, Halloween, and Father's Day).

So far, Nik, the children, and myself have seen Lincoln Memorial, the White House (alhtough I do not seem to care for the president; he is making many people mad, and somehow, I just don't trust him), the Washington Monument, and the U.S. Mint, where they make their money (literally).  Today we plan on taking the kids to the National Zoo.  I know they will have fun looking at all the different animals.

Tomorrow we will gather near the White House, where the national Fourth of July celebration will take place.  There will be events all day long, and in the evening, millions will gather to see live music by international acts and probably the world's biggest fireworks display.  I don't know how the kids will take the noise; they're all still pretty young, especially the baby, Ilsa, who is now over one year old and getting bigger all the time.

I just hope the noise doesn't scare them into hiding, especially since we are in a foreign country!  I don't want them to get lost or separated from us; that would be a parent's worst nightmare come true !

On Tuesday, we will start our drive to Virginia, and then to the Carolinas.  After that, who knows where we will be.  We are going to be  here probably a good two months or so; there's so much to see!  We can take our time traveling and taking in the sights.

It's a good thing we are here in America:  I can forget about my own health troubles (that is, if my fibromyalgia or my MS doesn't decide to flare up and rear their ugly heads), and concentrate on the children, seeing friends, and taking in the sights!

We will probably fly back to Finland at the end of September, the way things look now.  Then we can see the auroras and get back to our lives back home.  Until then, we are going to make every minute of our vacation to America count.  We can relax and enjoy each other as a family, the way it should be.

Well, I am going to go back to bed, so I will go for now.  Still trying to get over this jet lag!  I'm still not used to the time here.  While it is early morning here, back home in Finland, it is going towards evening.  Until I write next time, this is Sari Annike saying Nakemiin for now!  Wish us safe travels as we journey across America; I would greatly appreciate it!  Thanks and God bless!

~Love, your friend, Sari Annike.

P.S.:  To my friends here in America ---  Happy Independence Day!!!!  :)