Resilient

Look what I found in the garden! I also found two strawberries and ate them.

I continued the pre-winter work in the garden as the freezing temperatures are nearing fast. Now I only have raking left and as there's still leaves in the trees, that will wait.

Our former president Martti Ahtisaari (The Nobel Peace Prize winner 2008) died this morning. He was 86. I've never met him. I have met two Finnish presidents.

I met Kekkonen when I was about 9 years old. I was walking with a friend and my parents in Seurasaari, Helsinki where he used to walk. So my friend Soili and I went up to him, curtsey-ed (don't know the imperfect of the word) him and said Good day Mr. President and he replied Good day girls.



I also met Halonen in Hakaniemi, Helsinki where she had hew office. We shared a very small two person fitting elevator ride. She was very intimidating in person. She kind of ordered me to join her in the elevator.  I had the same ride with her husband and he was very nice and friendly.



The death of Ahtisaari just made me remember these encounters. My husband's 98 year old grandpa is / was in the same care facility where Ahtisaari was.



I think it's quite rare for an ordinary person like me to have met two presidents. Kekkonen was still active president when we greeted him. Halonen was former.