A Life in Waiting

Well after my disappointment at the poker table, the following few days were pretty well quiet. We went to Maria’s parents house for dinner again on Saturday night, which as always was a lovely time. It’s a nice escape (like I need an escape, I’m on frikkin vacation) out of the city where Lexi has a chance to run around like she owns the place and we get to have a good home cooked meal sprinkled with even better conversations. It’s nice too because it gives me the feeling of family dinners back home.

Next comes Monday, the 31^st. That’s right, New Years Eve. Well if you naïve Americans reading this thought fireworks were only for the Fourth of July or the Whop Hop at the Point, then you are about to learn something. Fireworks are for New Years. And it is not only for professionals…even though it should be. To give a little peak into where this is all going, in the cab (well before midnight mind you) there was a story told over the radio about the first house that was burned down by a drunken Finn. FIRST?!?! Are you kidding me? It’s not even when you’re supposed to be celebrating yet.

So we start our evening at The Dog Hut (of course) making sure all the little buggers have pooped and peed in the proper places before heading out to Annette’s flat about 20mins drive away for a pre New Years dinner. Turns out there was a larger gala that got canceled last minute, so there were a few over dressed party goers with no place to go. Not to mention a LOT of food. Good food. J

So we arrive around 18.00 to find we are the last to arrive. And WAY underdressed. When they said a gala, I just assumed they were exaggerating. Nope. Well actually it wasn’t all that bad, there were only six of us in total and really only one woman was wearing an extremely formal gown. And her reasoning behind wearing it was, “I dragged this damn gown all the way from London and I’m wearing it one way or another!” Well we had a great time comparing travel stories and other related items as two of the women there had both been in the States among other places. We sit down to a killer dinner and proceed to start the New Year’s celebration early. Well, we weren’t the only ones. Remember the fireworks? Well apparently there’s a Finnish law that from 6pm New Year’s Eve until sometime in the morning fireworks are legal. And I don’t mean sparklers and spinners. Oh no, not at all.

Before we left for the dinner party, I heard a few ‘gunshots’ here and there. At first I didn’t really think much of it, electrical transformer blew, a container truck dropped it’s container a bit too hard in an area that had an echo. Who knows, plenty of reasons but they all would’ve been wrong. Turns out it was a few Finns a bit too anxious to wait for their 6pm warfare allowance. Exaggeration, right? Not this time.

Now I’ve lived in New York my whole life. Travelled here and there, but have no idea what a war zone feels like. Sure I’ve watched Saving Private Ryan and all the bad 90’s movies covering the Middle Eastern conflicts (Navy Seals come to mind), but never experienced it. As it turns out, Helsinki on New Year’s is much, much worse. Bombs going off left and right, nonstop. Sitting down at dinner was a constant barrage of explosions and flashes. See Finns don’t care much for the pretty, flashy stuff, they focus on the noisemakers. Flying M80s and the like. I was in awe. I mean literally, the windows were rattling and everything. As I read back over this I realize I’m not doing a good job conveying what it really was like, so I apologize. Just watch the opening scene of Private Ryan where they storm the beaches at Normandy. Just turn the volume way up and sit on the subwoofer.

Well anyway, after we finished dinner and all, we all hop into cabs and head towards Eastern Helsinki into an area called Sipoo. It’s very similar to where Maria’s parents live in the fact that it’s mostly summer cottages, not many year round occupants. At Sipoo Petra, one of the dinner guests, has a family house that has been taken over by her siblings friends for a rather large party. Everyone gathers outside at the main house, which is sitting on top of a large hill with views all around. Quite beautiful, especially with the leaves off the trees because you can see for a good distance. The Champagne bottles get popped and everyone grabs a glass for the final countdown. Now during all of this, the fireworks are still being shot off all around. The standard 10second countdown applies and at the stroke of midnight the real show begins. The skies just light up with a spectacular show of explosions and light! But the crazy part is that it wasn’t all in one place. It was from every direction. Hundreds of private parties all around celebrating the New Year with their own private show lighting up the sky. It was beautiful. Truly breathtaking.

Afterwards we head down the hill to an old barn that the kids converted into a party room. With the DJ DJing, and a table of booze off to the side, it turned out to be a great time. So good, that I really don’t remember how we got home.

2 Responses to “Continuation of the below summary”

1. Mom Says:
   January 11th, 2008 at 7:59 am

   Good Morning Mikie. I must say that I can relate to the noise that you had on New Years Eve. Talking to you, the background noise was really loud.
   I must say, being your Mom and x amount of years older than you, it was the first time in my life that I spoke to one of my children, while they were in one year & I was in another.
   Have a wonderful experience.
   Be safe & Love to you both.
   Mom & Ricky

2. Jeremy Says:
   January 11th, 2008 at 4:50 pm

   ‘Atta boy Mikie - a blackout on New Years…how terrible…I could never relate to such an experience! What is happening to you over in the Land ‘O Finns?

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