Brothers, uncles and memories

So I'm back from weekend's travelling.

I decided that it was important for me to meet my boyfriend's brother (and what a witty, joyful man he is!) and visit my uncles. Luckily, my boyfriend understood the importance of visiting my uncles.

So, I met my boyfriend's brother and saw my uncles on Saturday and Sunday. Although I would have wanted to spend little more time chatting to Kari, my boyfriend's brother, it was precious to visit mum's childhood home once again (the last visit was last summer).

When we arrived to Rantala, it turned out that there's mum's third youngest brother and his wife as well! So I got to meet 3 uncles instead of 2 and one aunt. I haven't seen that uncle and his wife in few years time, so it was great.

Mum's oldest brother, Eero, is 72. He's going to hospital on Monday. His doctor wants to do some blood circulation tests before the operation. Once again my uncle knows that the operation has its risks; he can be paralyzed...

It turned out that Yrjö, the youngest of those uncles present, is going to surgery later this year as well. His back will be operated as well. In his case the risks are not as high, but he has suffered from health problems all his life and I don't even recall how many operations he has had.

Luckily Tauno, the second oldest uncle, 71, is doing better. He's blood pressure is as good as athlete's (his doc's words) and he has got his spark back. It was great to see. I do hope that he stays that way! At his age... nobody knows.

Mum has 9 siblings, 8 of them still with us. Mum has 5 brothers and 3 sisters. While we were at Rantala, there was news about third oldest sibling, uncle Seppo. He was in car accident early this year and he just was in another reparation operation for his leg. Apparently, the doctors had said that he can expect anything between a year and year and a helf before his leg will get better. Not a small thing.

There are lots of berry bushes at Rantala. My uncles persuaded me to pick some berries and I sure did. I came home with 5 litres of black and red currants! And some rhubarb, which Tauno said that they do not need.

It was good to see Rantala once again. I've seen that red house many times and I hope to see it many more, too. I also took a little walk at the old cowshed barn and mill... and took pictures. It was a small walk down the memory lane also. I don't even know how many summer mornings I woke up early to accompany my cousins and uncle Eero at the cowshed to feed the cows and calves... and swam at the beach...and walked at the grounds, picking flowers and admiring the amazing sunsets. Wonderful, wonderful times.