Dad spent a few hours at the Fair today. He loved the crab he had for lunch and greeted many old friends and new (even DeVonne!) as we toured the grounds. We stopped at lots of fab booths with people working hard for Good Causes.
Thanks to Pioneers’ Home for bringing folks out.
Also, Deborah N was out at Pioneers’ yesterday and related that Brian A had visted with her the previous evening when they came to see Dad.
–Chena (raincoated at the cabbage weigh in with Dad and staff)
Heather brought Niilo home for dinner and a visit – Heather, Joan, Chena, Gary and Rob were there. Niilo seemed comfortable and enjoyed dinner, though wasn’t really talkative.
Next Thursday, Pioneers Home transports him to the Tanana Valley Fair, where Chena will be taking him around to see the sights in the early afternoon.
Bagpipes, jigs, friends, family, and delicious food were some of the things brought together by the Pioneers Home last week one merry evening. Old friends not formerly seen for years were Hitchcock clan women, Barry Corell, and others.
Then 2 days later, the Golden Days Parade, with front row seats by the river – very picturesque. Mom noted that there were many cars (and several fire engines and tractors) but only One horse! Also unicyclists big-front-wheeled bicyclists, many dogs, numerous Fairbanks groups of which I had formerly been ignorant, and the usual Golden Days suspects. And various old friends came up to say hello to Joan & Niilo: Great to see Larry Irving, Jim Johnson, and Pat Kalen. And Pioneers Home staff helped everyone be comfortable by supplying juices, hats, & sunglasses.
Niilo & Joan were recently given a special quilt DeVonne made for them, featuring trains & horses of course! DeVonne has been wonderful. She visits Niilo frequently, taking him for strolls and bringing train books to discuss with him.
Not as fun, Niilo went to the dentist today. But that actually went fine too. Dr. Miears crew are very experienced with the blend of gentleness and proficiency especially important for people with special needs. Niilo agrees to go back for a cleaning in a couple of months.
The continued warm, dry, smokey weather we’ve been having is at unhealthy levels, but neither Niilo nor Joan seem to be bothered by it. And the garden is doing very well. Peas are Joan’s delight tonight!
Heather
Since moving to the Pioneers Home Niilo has visited home several times, mostly to the older kitchen/livingroom, where he can sit at his traditional seat at the round table, facing out the south windows.
Last weekend included the treat of a visit by dear, long-time friend Marilyn Herreid.
Niilo seems to enjoy being home and Joan enjoys having him for these visits. More recently they were made a little easier by construction of crude but functional ramps for the various individual and sets of steps.
At the Pioneers Home, Niilo is frequently wheeled outdoors, which he likes. He also attends evening gatherings such as local music-makers who play in the Ptarmigan Room or the library. On occasion, family have watched a home video or horse race with him there as well, Joan with her knitting. And we occasionally eat with him in the main dining hall.
Niilo still laughs and speaks sometimes. Less often, he looks at his literature. He doesn’t seem so interested in politics, to the dismay of various people who query family about what he thinks of current events. He still likes to attend Quaker ‘meeting’ and makes it there most Sundays.
Thanks to all visitors to Niilo and Joan!
Heather
Niilo took a ride on the Railroad again. Chena and he rolled Niilo’s wheelchair along the trails to Pioneer Park one late May day and happily discovered that the train there now has a wheelchair-accessible passenger car. Chena says he clearly enjoyed the trip.
Joan often ‘drives’ Niilo’s wheelchair around the Pioneer Home, including a trail through woods. In addition to much birdsong and flowers, wildlife enjoyed on these outings have included hares, wild ducks, squirrels, one fox, and evidence of visits by moose. It is an attractive place.
Niilo has made it to Quaker meeting a couple of times since moving to the Pioneers Home, and hopes to visit the homestead in the near future. He has enjoyed visitors, but is sometimes snoozing deeply. His most awake time seems to be evenings.
Heather
Niilo has not made it to Quaker ‘meeting’ since moving to the Pioneers Home. However, with Joan’s help pushing his wheelchair, he convened with Nature Sunday by a stroll around the outside of the Home. They saw 2 hares, 2 squirrels, ravens, robins, chickadees, red polls, and moose droppings. And young green leaves on the trees and greening grass.
They also looked into Niilo’s room from outside, which he enjoyed. When asked who made the pottery train, he said, “We did, quite deliberately.” He also affirmed that, “Yes, definitely,” he enjoys going for walks outside.
Back indoors, Niilo listened to a couple of poems and was in the mood for song, so Joan, Heather & Rob sang a few for him. Joan knew more of ‘I Dreamed I Saw Joe Hill’ than the others!
Heather
Tuesday was the big day for Niilo: He moved to the Fairbanks Pioneers Home, where he is now situated at the very end of the longest corridor in Aurora wing, in Room 229.
Visiting hours are 7 am to 8 pm. Sign in near the front desk as a visitor and ask at the office for directions. Please also sign Niilo’s guest book. There is actually a northeastern Aurora entrance to enter closer to his room, but some of us enjoy the historic and wildlife pictures and the exercise taking the longer route.
Niilo appreciates slow, listening conversation, strolling in his wheelchair looking at and discussing the pictures on the walls, having poetry or a little news read to him, shoulder massages, or just having someone sit with him holding his hand in silent meditation.
Joan is doing well with Niilo’s move, and has visited and eaten with him 3 times already. Guests can eat with him in the main dining hall (bigger, and with abler residents) or in Aurora – talk to Niilo’s Aide or nurse or kitchen staff.
Joan’s adjustment to Niilo’s absence includes family and helper Nancy being able to do more with her, including driving down to see Niilo, being home alone more again, and using the older kitchen/dining area more again. (Since Niilo stopped being able to negotiate stairs a year ago, family meals had been in the wheelchair-accessible remodeled former “upstairs barn” that stored the year’s supply of hay for years.)
Spring is probably a good time for this move to have come; brighter days and the approaching outdoors weather and activities should help with the emotional adjustment.
Any messages to Niilo (via mail, phone, or email) will be read to him.
heatherkoponen@hotmail.com
Thanks to the visitors and writers since the last post: Don, Suzy and Kraig, Don and Ruth, Earl, Dick, Jose, Peggy, Dave, Pat.
Joan is very much enjoying the increased wildlife: redpolls singing, grouse and moose making the best of the crabapple tree, Canada jays, ravens.
Niilo sometimes rolls himself around, enjoys listening to music, and at other times snoozes in wheelchair or recliner.
The big event is a room opening up for Niilo at the Fairbanks Pioneers Home, to which he will move within the next few weeks. He and Joan and others of us went down to let staff know his needs and to see the room and more of the place. He seemed to enjoy the visit, grinning a few times. Some old friends of his are already there, plus it will be a handier location for some other friends to visit. Niilo will still be able to go to Quaker meeting and home to visit; Joan looks forward to visiting him at the Pioneers Home every day.
It’s also a very busy year at the homestead with much weatherization having been accomplished (Thanks Chena and Gary for overseeing this) and more to do – along with other repairs and maintenance.
Enjoying the lengthening of the days, Heather K.
(Note: This post was posted in Historic Photos and this moderator moved it to a stand alone. It sure was nice to hear from you in Finland!–Chena)
Submitted on 2009/02/28 at 1:59pm Hi Niilo and family, I am sending this mail from Finland. I was studying in UAF for a short period in 1995. When I was there I found Niilo’s sauna through Carl and Erika Cowans. They were students who had rented your cabin at your home. They told me about you and your sauna, when after I told them that as a Finn I was missing sauna.
One dark winter evening on Sunday, I skied to your home ( as poor student), hesitatingly knocked the door, without knowing who will open and is this the right house. You Niilo opened the door and I introduce myself in poor English and after also in Finnish and you answered we in Finnish and welcommed me to your home. I never forget that hospitality. After that I visited your sauna there every Sunday unless I left back to Finland. I really enjoyded my discussions with you Niilo and other people I met there. I never forget those evenings I spent at you home.
As a Finn I really respected that hospitality you have at your home. It is saturday night here and I was again after long time watching an internet and I found this blog. I hope from all my heart that you and your family are doing well. Kaikkea hyvää Niilo sinulle ja perheelle toivoo Tapio Suomesta. Best regards Tapio Tuominen Helsinki FINLAND
Niilo has been more lively in the evenings lately and the other night rolled his wheelchair through the entryway and opened the door to the -20 outdoors, saying he wanted to go downtown.
Why not? Mom’s almost always ready for a drive. So we bundled up and went for a Tuesday night drive to downtown via the smaller roads, then all through Pioneer Park, Taku area where we’ve hardly ever been, and back home. We discussed sights and history along the way, Dad participating some, and sang some songs.
In a family that is not known for driving for pleasure and in a time of watching expenses, it may seem silly to drive around burning gasoline for over an hour…but all enjoyed it.
Last evening when Dad seemed restless I asked him if he would like me to do anything for him. His reply: “I want you to work for non-violence.”
Heather