27 May, 2020 - A Day Off & Hope You Hear My Letters Soon...
Dear, Mom -
Our friend Sandahl that was kind enough to read you my letters has moved on, so I am not sure when you will be able to hear my letters read to you again. I hope and pray soon for it is such a dear connection between us as we are kept apart. It does make me a bit anxious for you not to hear from me, but we will hope for the best in the coming couple of days.
I found this beautiful oil painting online. I took a copy of it because it has a lovely rendition of clouds. The blues blend so well in the picture. The one aspect that I really love about the picture is the serenity of a time past that it represents. Colonizing this nation was such a horrible thing to do in the name of power and greed. The indigenous people lived in a harmony that will never again be replicated. I like to think that our Samí roots in Lapland gives me this connection. When you compare the atrocities that indigenous people were made to go through in the name of religion, it is shameful. All we can hope is that this is a time for reflection and apology and that such horrible incidents will never again be repeated. It may take a new Earth for this to happen; a reclaiming of what once was. All I know is my connection through you and Grandpa Arvø to a heritage of native peoples. One day, I will have my DNA tested so I can try to see exactly where Grandpa's lineage came from. I guess I am getting off the subject, but you know how I have always had a connection to the First Nation people of this country and I think this is why. I think it is in our blood and it just took me a while to figure it out. I will always remember saying to you when I was very little that I was "Indian". I was sure of it. You would just say, "I'd think I'd know if you were.". Someday, I hope we can verify it. Grandpa has such little history to go by. This picture, though, makes me think deeply of our connection in one way or another to our ancestors (especially since we know it is FinnSwede/ Scandanavian). The Samí people were made to leave their homes, surrender their children to Christian schools, stop speaking their native tongue and singing their sacred songs. This is not right, for none of us will ever truly know which religion is correct, even if one says they know for sure in their heart. If one is brought up, or chooses to follow a certain religion, of course they will say it is the right and true religion. There is only one being that will ever truly be able to prove that. I'm getting off subject again, but it just makes me sad that all cultures aren't allowed to thrive under their own belief systems without the forceful hand of another belief system. Well, I guess some day we will know, but we should all have the right to believe what we want. This is my socio-cultural anthropology coming out. After all, that is what I went to school for. I hope it wasn't too boring to listen to :)
Tonight, I am once again very tired. I have been giving all my spare time to the yard and making it nice. I'm trying to fill it with flowers grown from seeds and to make sure that the weeds are not going to come back. I weeded and re-weeded trying to get all the roots out. The new mulch on top of the old soil is already perking up the plants I've kept. Snapdragons, dianthus, heliotrope, primrose, and columbine. It is amazing that so many annuals came back from last year's spring season. I also think I will have a very healthy crop of blueberries from the two bushes I have. They are full of fruit. Here is a picture I took today showing the green berries:
I think I will plant a couple more established bushes along the front fence. They seem to grow well there, especially when I keep that bed tended to. I also prune the new growth that basically sprout up like suckers that are just leeching the nutrients from the limbs with fruit.
I hope your wounds on your knees are healing well. I bought you a piece of foam to put between your knees to help keep them apart so the wounds will not get worse. I hope it helps and that it is not uncomfortable.
I sure love you, mom. Stay well. I will come hug you as soon as I possibly can. They day we are allowed into the facility, I will be the first to burst through the door and cradle you in my arms. You are so very dear to me and I miss you horribly. Please be patient. The day will come soon.
All My Love,
Sally Ann
Our friend Sandahl that was kind enough to read you my letters has moved on, so I am not sure when you will be able to hear my letters read to you again. I hope and pray soon for it is such a dear connection between us as we are kept apart. It does make me a bit anxious for you not to hear from me, but we will hope for the best in the coming couple of days.
I found this beautiful oil painting online. I took a copy of it because it has a lovely rendition of clouds. The blues blend so well in the picture. The one aspect that I really love about the picture is the serenity of a time past that it represents. Colonizing this nation was such a horrible thing to do in the name of power and greed. The indigenous people lived in a harmony that will never again be replicated. I like to think that our Samí roots in Lapland gives me this connection. When you compare the atrocities that indigenous people were made to go through in the name of religion, it is shameful. All we can hope is that this is a time for reflection and apology and that such horrible incidents will never again be repeated. It may take a new Earth for this to happen; a reclaiming of what once was. All I know is my connection through you and Grandpa Arvø to a heritage of native peoples. One day, I will have my DNA tested so I can try to see exactly where Grandpa's lineage came from. I guess I am getting off the subject, but you know how I have always had a connection to the First Nation people of this country and I think this is why. I think it is in our blood and it just took me a while to figure it out. I will always remember saying to you when I was very little that I was "Indian". I was sure of it. You would just say, "I'd think I'd know if you were.". Someday, I hope we can verify it. Grandpa has such little history to go by. This picture, though, makes me think deeply of our connection in one way or another to our ancestors (especially since we know it is FinnSwede/ Scandanavian). The Samí people were made to leave their homes, surrender their children to Christian schools, stop speaking their native tongue and singing their sacred songs. This is not right, for none of us will ever truly know which religion is correct, even if one says they know for sure in their heart. If one is brought up, or chooses to follow a certain religion, of course they will say it is the right and true religion. There is only one being that will ever truly be able to prove that. I'm getting off subject again, but it just makes me sad that all cultures aren't allowed to thrive under their own belief systems without the forceful hand of another belief system. Well, I guess some day we will know, but we should all have the right to believe what we want. This is my socio-cultural anthropology coming out. After all, that is what I went to school for. I hope it wasn't too boring to listen to :)
Tonight, I am once again very tired. I have been giving all my spare time to the yard and making it nice. I'm trying to fill it with flowers grown from seeds and to make sure that the weeds are not going to come back. I weeded and re-weeded trying to get all the roots out. The new mulch on top of the old soil is already perking up the plants I've kept. Snapdragons, dianthus, heliotrope, primrose, and columbine. It is amazing that so many annuals came back from last year's spring season. I also think I will have a very healthy crop of blueberries from the two bushes I have. They are full of fruit. Here is a picture I took today showing the green berries:
I think I will plant a couple more established bushes along the front fence. They seem to grow well there, especially when I keep that bed tended to. I also prune the new growth that basically sprout up like suckers that are just leeching the nutrients from the limbs with fruit.
I hope your wounds on your knees are healing well. I bought you a piece of foam to put between your knees to help keep them apart so the wounds will not get worse. I hope it helps and that it is not uncomfortable.
I sure love you, mom. Stay well. I will come hug you as soon as I possibly can. They day we are allowed into the facility, I will be the first to burst through the door and cradle you in my arms. You are so very dear to me and I miss you horribly. Please be patient. The day will come soon.
All My Love,
Sally Ann
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