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)
Murry Jumps In
Hello Joan and Niilo, Sent you a card the other day. Have been getting news of Niilo’s recent trip to hopital and return home from John Culbertson. Also had a great phone conversation with Jay Worley and passed on news to him. He and Pam are in Santa Paula looking after Pam’s 91 yr. old father. He told me that he and Pam were married by Niilo on your property. Lovely connection I didn’t know about.
Just want to wish you well and let you know I think of you so often. My years smokejumping in Alaska were made all the more wonderful by our friendship and the many, many saunas shared Sundays evenings. The love and special feeling of your home was a touchstone for me during times when I needed to feel close to family and the better things in life.
I’ll be in Fairbanks in June of 2009 for the 50 year Reunion of the Alaska Smokejumpers. I’ll be there a week or so and will come by for a visit. In the meantime, know that you are thought of often with much love.
Sincerely, Murry Taylor
2008/05/13 at 7:51 AM
Seeds of Freedom
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
Anna’s Great Fondness
Niilo,
Mitä Kuuluu? I just received a note from Beth this morning that told me that you were in the hospital and was quite distressed to hear it. I want you to know that I am thinking about you and wishing for a strong and quick recovery.
I also wanted to take the time to say Kiitos for all of the news clippings that you have sent me over the years, I feel blessed to have been on your mailing list. In this day and age, with so many serious issues facing our country, I am always thankful to have a reminder of good socialist thinking for troubled times.
Take care of yourself, I know that you are surrounded by your loving family and I have little to add to their loving care but want you to know how much your wisdom means to so many of us and we look forward to many years of sage advice to come.
With Great Fondness, näkemiin!
Anna
2008/05/12 at 7:16 AM
Gerry Henkel checks in (Gotta love Finns!)
Hello Niilo and family…
Harri Siitonen emailed me the other day to say that this blog was online, and that I should check it out.
I’ve missed talking with you Niilo – those chats over the phone every once in awhile about politics and Finns in Alaska. (It is so good to see Beth K’s email – if it hadn’t been for you Niilo, I would never have had a chance to talk with her and find out how she’s carrying on good work in Alaska.)
I’ve got a special place in my heart for you (and for your family and friends), and I’m going to keep checking in.
Be well, and take care…
Gerry
Saturday, May 10th – a Strong Voice
Today would have been a good day for phone calls, as Niilo’s voice was strong. He appreciated having letters read out loud to him and wanted to spend most of the day in the wheelchair at the table with literature, as he has done for the past several years. He didn’t seem at all sore from yesterday’s slip to the floor.
As it was a nice mostly sunny day, Mom and I did some work out in the flower beds and noticed that tulips and columbines are starting to push their way out of the ground.
Chena is slaving away at paperwork.
10:19 and the sun just set in the northwest but the sky is perfectly light still. Buds show on the trees. Summertime…
Heather
Kiitos and more from Beth
Hi Niilo and family. I am with my mom and dad, and we all just wanted to say hi and that we are thinking of you all. We all have great thoughts coming your way. It was always fun to hear Niilo and my dad speaking Finnish and discussing great ideas. Great days.
I hope you all have a good Mothers Day, and all our best, Kiitos, Beth Kerttula
2008/05/10 at 4:52 PM
Cod Liver Oil
Diane suggested a cod liver oil and heat treatment on Dad’s tummy, which was a bit bloated and not working perfectly. Wow, things moved right along. So then I left Dad unattended on the toilet as I went to check cookies–briefly and so close by, I thought–but enough time for Dad to land on the floor. I called 911 and Chena Goldstream Fire and Rescue took Dad to the hospital, where Heather helped with the look over for possible broken bones. Nothing seemed amiss, and Dad came home again courtesy of the ambulance.
Meanwhile, Mom and I talked about aging and related issues. I was once again impressed by her grasp of things. A passing discussion was about Cuba, and she related Fidel’s brother was now in charge. Jeez. Here she is still amazing us with memory repair, and Dad is putting us in a different place. Mom puzzles about it too with much concern. She doesn’t know what to do to help him; she finds conversation with him difficult these days.
Sorry folks for my negligence on letting Dad fall. Thanks Alex for helping, to the rescue squad for doing good works again (anyone out there going to tell us some Niilo fire department stories?!!), and Heather for taking care of Dad. Boy, am I ever glad she had a cell phone today.
–Chena
Militia
Hi, Heather,
I enjoyed your comments about the Chena Ridge Militia. This got me to remembering when the Parks Highway went in, which was very high above the surrounding roads. Niilo made a joking comment about the “Great Wall of Chena.” I had this vision of a vast crowd of rugged warriors stationed along the top, armed with various weapons. Somehow we never got around to making a picture. My best wishes to all of you.
Ruth Murphy May 9, 2008 at 10:05 am
Songs
Niilo requested more songs sung to him this evening, from Tom Paxton and Woody Guthrie tunes to Quaker and Shaker songs; We didn’t get to any of the Songs To Be Sung In Case Of Emergency by the “Chena Ridge Militia”. (No, they weren’t para-military; rather, they were a militia of irreverent ideas.) Perhaps in the near future…
Thanks to Nancy D. for time spent with Niilo & Joan yesterday evening, and to Nancy S. for running errands today, to Chena as ever, and to Alex for coming to help with transfers, more difficult again….
Heather