September 6, 2008

Written September 21

Dear Friends and Families,

I like harbors. Maybe it's our current home in land-locked Bavaria that made the Helsinki Harbor seem so romantic and yet, for a Seattle-born Norwegian, homey. However, I have to give Marianne credit for leading us onto the tour boat. I might have walked right by; my feet were tired from touring, it was chilly, the sun was not sure if it was going to come out, etc., etc., etc., But, spontaneity won over whining.

Mostly, I took pictures; pictures of ferry boats, sail boats, speed boats, ice breakers, catamarans, even a submarine! (See Suomenlinna story.) Not much story here, just a reminder to listen when the wife says "Why don't we .....?"

John (whiner)and Marianne (spontaneous)