09/25/2026
Things are changing. On many levels. Change is inevitable. It’s constant. But some shifts are felt more deeply than others. I’m not fighting it but observing it. Being a witness to it and learning as much as I can. Trying to understand my part in it. Where I fit into it all.
I couldn’t imagine what my Great Great Grandparents went through when they arrived in the states. All the changes they experienced, the division they witnessed and the loss they endured. Understanding their new place in this world. Sacrificing more than I can imagine. It’s difficult to compare my struggles with theirs.
What I can choose to do is remember & honor all the beauty that came out of their story and how it brought me into this world. I am forever grateful for their journey and all that it involved, the good & the bad. I’m grateful that they brought their culture, traditions and values here. I will celebrate, honor and share them for as long as I am able. Keeping their memory and name alive!
📷Pictured: Matti Efrain Raitto & Rosie W. Luomala
🌎Please note: I have made the difficult decision to not attend the Keene International Festival tomorrow. Just one of the many unfortunate changes I am currently experiencing.
