I’m told we have a few faithful readers of the blog, one of whom is Karjala, aka Nonni. Apparently the highlight of the day is reading this, thus informing him know what his dad Niilo is up to. He’s disappointed if there isn’t anything written up daily.

Neither Karjala, his sister Sanni, grandson Max, granddaughter Katya or step-grandkids Peter and Danny have their picture on the top of the blog because they don’t current live in Alaska, to everyone’s mutual loss. The other reason is that WordPress limits the size of the graphic at the top and we would all really be squished more than we already are.

So here’s one of grandson Max and Karjala, the latter doing what he does best (:-).

Gary

  Saturday, as Niilo came in view of puffing 109-year-old steam Engine 1 as it drew out of the station, the conductor, engineer, and coal-shoveler waved enthusiastically to him and blew the whistle for their fellow train devotee.  Given first-class treatment by Bill Stringer, Bill Schecter, and crew, Niilo and family rode the little narrow-gauge Tanana Valley Railroad by the Chena River.  Bill Stringer sat next to Niilo as Bill Schecter, in the next row, explained to all passengers the history of the little train (see http://www.fairnet.org/agencies/tvrr/history.html).  Niilo clearly enjoyed being with his old buddies and surprised some of us with how well he was able to transfer from wheelchair to train and back.  Thanks so much, Tanana Valley RR crew!

  The trip wiped him out for hours but after sleeping Niilo walked a few yards almost unassisted.  Today (Sunday) he says he will feel up to going out to the front yard in the evening to visit with sauna-time guests.

  Thanks to Sherry Lewis, former fellow Chena-Goldstream Volunteer Fire Dept volunteer and Board member, for her visit today bearing jams hand-delivered from Marty Betts in Idaho!

  Heather

Scott C. has done great work this week making the greenhouse more safe and useful, as well as some other other jobs around the house. We sure appreciate it.

–Chena

Dear Friends,

Thanks for keeping us posted with news from the Koponen Homestead. I will definitely be making a trip to Fairbanks this summer, perhaps in mid July. I hope my car starts up after being parked for more than a year! So far, I have had good luck with doing this. In any case, I look forward to seeing you guys.

Luke and Deborah are doing well. Luke is finishing up 8th grade. The next three weeks are full with awards assemblies, a recital, and celebrations.

We just got a border collie from a rescue group. Tam is about 15 months, and very willing to learn new tricks. He is most attached to Deborah, and most happy when he can herd all three of us.

Our love to you all –

Brian Allen

2008/05/21 at 9:20 AM

Dad was talkative during the time I was with him today. He explained that he would like to ride on a railroad, so I called Bill S. to ask about the Tanana Valley Railroad. Bill said it would be running on Saturday. I relayed this to Dad, but asked him if he would prefer the Alaska Railroad. He said he thought not, that the Tanana Valley Railroad would be better.

I really don’t know how we are going to get Dad to Pioneer Park. We don’t have a car he will fit, that I know of. Van Tran, the Borough wheelchair bus system, does not come up to Chena Ridge, that I know of. If anyone has a solution, please call me at 488-2001.

At Pioneer Park, we hope we can get Dad–weather permitting or maybe who cares?–to the train in his wheelchair. Don’t know if we can get him in the passenger part–kind of narrow little doors if I recall–but at least it’s a thought right now.

Amazing and with a huge amount of volunteer work over the years, the Tanana Valley Railroad group has taken the little engine that I played on (in park position) in front of the Samson’s Hardware area many years ago. And then my kids played on it as it sat in a new place at Pioneer Park. Dad’s love for that train goes way back further than me, and he is a lifetime member of the group that has worked so hard on its restoration.

Dad talked about other things too, today. Dick came by for a nice long visit. Ron is helping with the homestead, and says Frank will be up later today to see Dad. Frank went to the same high school in New York as Dad (as did Alaska Supreme Court Justice Rabinowitz and others. Come on, drop some names!). Dad clarified for me this afternoon how LaGuardia and the high school of music and art were the same/different, and I believe it is that in Dad’s time (& Frank’s & Jay’s) it was The High School of Music and Art and has since changed a little and become LaGuardia.

At the homestead, there are several paintings around that Dad did when he was a kid. Mostly he painted trains, and loved perspective. His doodles of people and his comic strips are things I remember from later on, and I’m sure some of us have some wicked stuff from the legislative years. Perhaps it was in the 1980s that Dad did some clay sculpture, and a bust he did and gave to Max is sitting in our living room.

–Chena

  Niilo appreciates the letters and phone calls and says he remembers all the folks, times, and issues mentioned in these letters; some we ‘kids’ don’t know, though most we do.

  Afternoons and evenings are typically higher energy times than mornings, but Dad has been glad to eat almost all meals at the table in his wheelchair and spends less time in bed and the recliner than last week.  He takes interest in the newspaper and more often speaks in full sentences; sometimes a paragraph at a time.  Every few days he walks a yard or two or three with the walker.

  Just now, listening to Myllarit via headphones, Dad tapped his toes to the music, a polka piece I think.

  Heather

It is hard to write a blog when I am running all over. When I get home, I don’t always remember what happened, and sometimes I think Heather is probably going to write. But right now she’s probably eating supper with Mom, while Dad and Dot eat upstairs. Mom is confused about others taking care of Dad. Heather and I love them both much and try hard to balance each of their needs.

Dot is a new hired caregiver. I could see I needed the relief, because the flat in my trunk never seems to get to the repair shop, the pile of papers goes up and down but mostly up, the grumpy factor surfaced occasionally….Marilyn comes in 5 mornings a week now 8:30 to 10:30, so I don’t rush on over first thing after another sleepless night. Dot is 5 afternoons 2:30 to sometime past bedtime. So Chena here comes in the midday to love the family, vacuum, talk with Heather about garden plans & so much more.

Today Mom and I played Boggle, a word game, right next to Dad after lunch. He seemed fairly interested. When we were putting the game away, he took a pad of paper and a pencil and started trying to write. Oh guys, I tear up just thinking about how I watched him for about 10 minutes, repeatedly writing. He couldn’t quite form complete letters–to be egocentric about it, there was one page I saw him write “C,” then “H”, then tried so hard for an “E” but it kept going squiggly on him. He put that aside and tried something else. I was behind him, rubbing his back gently, crying my eyes out. It is so hard to watch.

So I thought he was trying for another way to communicate. I’m just not smart in this. I got out the books on Alzheimers, and one of them talked about other diseases which mimic or cause similar symptoms. But really I think he does have dementia and we don’t know everything to do except love him and keep him healthy, talk to him. I appreciate Diane (massage therapist) and so many others who help me. The best help is always my hub Gary.

People have been good about visiting. Sean and Ed came over this afternoon. I went grocery shopping during that, so don’t have much to report. Earlier Ron came and Dad was so interested. Laughed and talked mostly things we didn’t know what to say back. But we all talked about drainage and other issues with Dad anyway.

Yesterday others visited: Don R ran up the hill with his dog only to find Dad was in a different mode than talking. Jude and Jim came up earlier while Dad mostly slept. Jude and Jim and Mom reminisced about about old names like Sparky and Austin and Harry and others from the 1950s, 60’s and onward. Gotta say it was terrific for me, and I hope Dad got something out of it. The old homesteading days on the Ridge were one of a kind, and Jude and Jim were there.

Dad was fairly strong today, compared to some. He was interested in his mail and occasionally talked about things, gesticulated, laughed. He enjoyed Heather’s smoked Yukon salmon at lunch. Later, he re-read the Kalavala book Jim B. had brought him. I think we are all buoyed by visitors, writers, the community out there who is there for all of us.

–Chena

Dear Niilo and Joan,
I just wanted to get this written. Start out with thanks for the several years of wonderful times at the saunas on Sunday nights. I am afraid that those good times will be forgotten. I had some great Sundays there for a while, went to Quakers in the morning, played volleyball at Bauricks in the afternoon, and sauna at your house in the evening. Made a great balance. (Also sometimes went to sauna down the road at Kahlens) Had large number of naked friends. I believe Paulette Henderson was one of the best. I think I still have a picture of Nillo. The most interesting thing is not that he is nude and has a child on his lap, but that he has not a white hair (visible) on his head. We all get older.
During the saunas at Nillo’s I can remember Joan as being tall, beautiful, and dark. She was a lover of horses. I was in awe of her. She seemed so elite. We had some wonderful times at those saunas. (I even got some of my best models there!)
I don’t want the bad things that have happened since (to your family and myself) to interfere. I am NOT A WALKING JUNK YARD in spite of the rumors, even though I feel like an old used car sometimes, not sure which parts are the original I live on a hand-full of pills a day, but I am in great shape. Don(Irish Prince) Murphy (Glad you liked the flowers)

Niilo, as a thanks to you for all you’ve helped us stand for, I’d like to send along these lyrics of Tommy Sands, the great Northern Irish singer and peacemaker. If anyone deserves to have them dedicated to them it’s you.
I hope they bring some comfort to those of you who are spending these days with Niilo as well.

YOUR DAUGHTERS AND YOUR SONS.

They wouldn’t hear your music
And they pulled your paintings down
They wouldn’t read your writing
And they banned you from the town
But they couldn’t stop you dreaming
And the victory you have won
For you sowed the seeds of freedom
In your daughters and your sons

In your daughters and your sons
In your daughters and your sons
You sowed the seeds of freedom
In your daughters and your sons

Well your weary smile it proudly hides
The chain marks on your hands
As you bravely strive to realise
The rights of every man
And though your body’s bent and low
A victory you have won
For you sowed the seeds of justice
In your daughters and your sons

Well, I don’t know your religion
But one day I heard you pray
For a world where everyone can work
And children can play
And though you never got your share
Of the fruits that you have won
You sowed the seeds of equality
In your daughters and your sons

Well, they taunted you in Belfast
And they tortured you in Spain
And in that Warsaw ghetto
Where they tied you up in chains
In Vietnam and in Chili
Where they came with tanks and guns
It’s there you sowed the seeds of peace
In your daughters and your sons

And now your music’s playing
And the writings on the wall
And all the dreams you painted
Can be seen by one and all
And now you’ve got them thinking
And the future’s just begun
For you sowed the seeds of freedom
In your daughters and your sons

–Ken Burch, 2008/05/13 at 1:28 AM