message from pete

it was a beautiful spring day in march. i went to see helen latvala in onnela which is back of atlantic mine towards the farming country. she lived alone in a small house. she was probably about 70 at the time of this happening. it had snowed during the night, a few inches and the sun was shinning like diamonds on the new fallen snow. when i got to helen's i parked the car and took the short walk to the house. when i knocked repeatedly helen didn't answer. but while knocking i could hear chip, chip, chip coming from the side of the house. there i found helen on a ladder propped against the eve of the house chipping ice with a hatchet. helen was blind, yes, very blind. i asked helen what is she doing on that ladder? she said she had to get the ice off of the eves, but please don't tell my daughter. she would only worry. i found it quite amazing!

another time i went to visit helen and she was quite depressed and weepy. i asked what her problem was. she said the family had installed automatic oil heat to replace the hand fired coal furnace, and now what will i have to do in place of firing up? of course the family was worried about the steep basement steps. helen was very capable and independant. everyone loved helen.