STAN KESTI....HE SANG AT MANY WEDDINS AND FUNERALS....HE AND RUTH WERE GOOD FRIENDS OF OURS..(pic from Heidi raisanen who sent it ti Mikko Halonen....Mikko said “we grew up with Pete, Stan and Aabo”

A FUNNY STORY ABOUT STAN.  IT WAS HIS FIRST TIME TO SING AT A FUNERAL.  HE MADE A QUICK STOP OVER, TO ASK WHERE WAS   THIS FUNERAL HOME, SO I TOLD HIM.   HE LEFT, AND CAME STORMING INTO THE HOUSE  AFTER THE FUNERAL, ALL SHOOK UP.  HE SAID IN A LOUD VOICE, “ELLEN TOROLA, MAY THE BLUEBIRD OF HAPPINESS CRAP ALL OVER YOUR BIRTHDAY CAKE,,”. I said, shocked,  “WHY?”  I SENT HIM TO THE WRONG FUNERAL HOME...IT PROBABLY WAS THE FIRST YEAR WE LIVED IN THE COPPER COUNTRY,SO I  MADE A MISTAKE,  HE WAS ALMOST LATE FOR THE FUNERAL, AND BEING IT WAS HIS FIRST TIME SINGING, HE WAS REALLY SHOOK UP.  OF COURSE I APOLOGIZED (TRYING TO HIDE MY GRIN)

Brian looking at an electric cart at Ruth Nara’s home...(like  the Bluffs but 20 times larger)

VISITED RUTH NARA WHO IS FROM HOUGHTON, WITH MARGIE AND BRIAN....MAKING SURE NOT TO TOUCH. SHE LIVES ONLY FOUR MILES FROM ME HERE.

ALLIGATOR IN OUR SWAN LAKE....WHEN IT REACHES FIVE FEET, THE POWERS THAT BE COMES TO GET IT OUT....ITS ALMOST FIVE FEET NOW.

Mending fish nets at the docks 

SHRIMP BOATS

WE COULDNT FIGURE OUT WHAT THIS BIRD WAS....IT KEPT MAKING SOUNDS LIKE IT WAS DISTRESSED. NOT A FALCON, NOT AN EAGLE, NOT AN OSPREY.....

CUTE LITTLE ELECTRIC SCOOTER AT OUR RESORT

ANOTHER INTERESTING VEHICLE

BRIAN DROVE TO MANY PIERS IN FT. MEYERS, LOOKING AT BOATS, BOUGHT SHRIMP

BRIAN AT ANOTHERDOCK

My grands at Loveboat ice cream place...they spent a fun week with me

Woo, lookit the Sunday’s....(small)

PLUMARIA HAS STARTED TO BLOOM

TREVOR AND LENNY

SWAN LAKE....IN OUR SIESTA BAY RESORT

YUM, WHILE THE WIND WAS WHIPPING

At Annie and Ken Helminen’s in Florida for church, potluck, good company...heard a few more “Pete stories/memories”, felt weepy but still had a lot of laughs...great time

front:  Joyce Bimberg, Laura Kero, Me, Brenda Helminen

Top: loanne  Anderson, Annie Helminen, Karen Randell, Carol Helminen, Sharon Linna, Linda Kangas, SUE Tolkkinen

Front: Dennis Anderson, Ron Kangas, George Linna,.

Back: Pete Helminen, Ken Helminen, Glen Kero, Gary Bimberg, Jim Randell,