Our perky Finnish friend writes us all the way from her homeland and gives us a lowdown on what is new with her. She has been doing fairly well, but she has lately come down with some puzzling symptoms, including unexplained fatigue, weakness, and pain in her muscles, like she is coming down with a case of the flu or something; but she doesn't feel sick, she says.

Hai! Miita kuuluu? Kiitos hyvaa!

This is Sari Gustaffssenn again. I am sitting here, relaxing, and enjoying the quietness of the evening. I have just tended to the reindeer, and I have taken care of Mother and also took a nice, long, luxurious sauna. I feel better now than I have in hours!

The weather is still cool, but it is warming up nicely. The days are getting longer, and the trees and flowers are starting to come into bloom; and I think the snows have ended until the fall time. (Here in the Arctic Circle, where I live in Ivalo, Finland, the first snows start in October, and they can go on until as late as April or May.) Ski season has about ended, and I shall miss the skiing, but I can get back to my running and walking; anything to stay in shape. I also eat low carb, and I watch my weight. But I have to have my reindeer meat every once in a while, you know?? LOL

Mother is doing a little better, she is eating now; but it is still a struggle to get her to eat enough. I am so worried that Mother will get sick or faint, and that would not be good, no?? She still has her days where she cries for Father, and I do too, and so do my brothers, but we have to go on with our lives and try to live without him. But we will always miss him, and we will probably never completely get over his death.

My cousin's parents, Pier (mother) and Oskar (father) are still torn up over the death of their daughter, Olga, who died in a car wreck. I still can't believe she is gone; she and I were very close, and now that she is gone, I find myself holed up in my room if I am not out exercising or studying for university or not at university, where I write out my deepest, innermost feelings. Olga was such a pretty, vivacious woman with red hair that shone like fire in the bright Finnish sunshine, and she had the prettiest green eyes. She laughed a lot, and she was always smiling. Now she is gone, in Heaven, and now she is at one with the Northern Lights; and now, whenever I see the Lights, I can't help but to be reminded of my cousin, Olga Pelssonn.

I have finally heard from Louisiana Sandusky! She wrote me a letter, which I received in post today, and I was soo happy to hear from her again! She sounds like she is doing well, what from her long, newsy, chatty letters! She recently went to Alaska, and she said the Lights were absolutely stunning there, but I still say she needs to come here to Finland and see some REAL Northern Lights! Alaska hasn't got ANYTHING on OUR Northern Lights here in FINLAND!! She said that the trip went well, other than Bill (her husband) having to go into hospital for two days on account of a breathing attack, and she said that her kids, Johnny and Ronee', really enjoyed themselves; and they saw the Northern Lights, went to an Inuit festival where they had whale, elk, caribou, and reindeer meat, and went shopping, and saw the glaciers and Mt. McKinley, and many other things. They saw a lot of animals, she said, and she said that Alaska was very pretty. Maybe so, but maybe one year I will invite the Sanduskys to Finland. Do you think that would be okay with them? I think so; I would LOVE to show them my world, my heritage, my home! She sent me a copy of her book, "A Family Made Out Of Miracles And Rainbows: The Sandusky Family Story--A True Story of Love And International Adoption"; so now I will have something to read before I retire for the night! I have started reading it, and so far it is quite interesting and very enjoyable! I think I shall enjoy learning more about my friend in America, Louisiana Sandusky, and her family!

I also have heard from Helvig Gustaffssenn, my friend from Finland who now lives in America, in Tennessee, and he has finally recovered from his accident and has since returned to his job at the factory. He says it feels so good to be making money again; and now he can catch up in paying his bills!

I have been busy myself, what between my daily exercise regimens, my schooling, my studying, and taking care of Mother and seeing my brothers; and I am happy to say that all are well; but lately I have been so incredibly tired and have been feeling weakened at times. I think my busy lifestyle is starting to catch up with me, and I also have been having unexplainable pains in my muscles, especially in my legs, shoulders, neck, also arms, plus the tiredness and weakness I just told you about. I hope I am not coming down with a case of grippe or something worse! If this pain or weakness doesn't end soon, I will have to make an appointment with the doctor, to see what he says, and hopefully, it is nothing serious. If the pain or weakness doesn't go away by next month, I shall have to see my doctor, and I don't like the thought of my becoming sick, especially since Mother isn't that well herself...But I am afraid I have no choice in the matter; something must be wrong with me.

I will write soon; will let you know what is up regarding my muscle aches, tiredness, and pain! Until the next time, Nakemiin, and God's blessings upon you all!

~Love, your friend in Finland, Sari G.