She's Ninety - and still Going Strong!

Tuomo writes: Hyvää itsenäisyyspäivää!!!

After centuries of varying degrees of mental and physical abuse by her spouces until 1917 when she declared her independence, Finland has been able to blossom and to become a fabulous gal that she is today at the age of 90. Though this freedom was seriously threatened in the late 1930s and early 40s by her former spouse to the east, she remained headstrong and did not succumb to the agressions. When asked for the secret for her success, she coyly responded, "Sisu, Sibelius, sauna, and rye bread. Oh and Nokia phones!"

Here's the Finnish national anthem (with an English translation for the Finnish Language Challenged):


Unlike the past few years, Dave and I won't be hosting an Independence Day reception this year. Under normal circumstances, that would have been held last Saturday. For one, we don't have the kitchen for it. Then there's the issue of limited space to entertain such a crowd of people... Oh well, maybe next year... Not that there are any other fabulous holiday parties lined up anyway...

On a more somber note, here are some Wikipedia links to other world events that have their anniversaries on this very same day:
Halifax Eplosion (Halifax, NS 1917)
Ecole Polytechnique Massacre (Montreal, QC 1989