Happy Birthday Katri!

Katri's first day as on official adult.

Today at Oravatupa we celebrated both Friendship Day and also Katri's 18th birthday. In the UK, 14th February is celebrated by those who are connected romantically (or at least wish they were!) If you are interested in someone but not in a relationship with them, the tradition there is to send an unsigned card, to keep your romantic interest guessing as to who the sender might be.

Here in Finland though, Valentines Day is called Friendship Day, and as the name might suggest, it is a day for friends to remember each other. That is what we did today, even though it was a few days early.

Just as importantly we shared Katri's birthday with her. Katri has been in the Somero English Club since we first met a year ago and has been a loyal member ever since. For those of you that have never met Katri let me use this occasion to say a few words about her.

Katri is someone who never tries to be anything she is not. She is completely honest and genuine. She is also open, giving and is rarely stuck for words. Having now known her for the last year, I know that both myself and everyone in my family considers her to be a loyal friend who is always ready to listen to others.

Kirsti, Manu and Heikki

She is a very creative and musical person. She plays the cello and sings - and is often asked to perform in public. Last year at our charity concert she amazed us all with her singing voice which most of us had never heard before. She also loves creative writing, and writes poetry in both Finnish and English.

Katri loves fantasy books and films, and at the moment is completely obsessed with the film Rise of the Guardians. I can't say anything sensible about this film as I haven't seen it. I can only tell you that my 11 year old Cameron loves it too, and it's my guess that Katri will be over here watching it with him as soon as the dvd is out.

Katri tells us what it feels like to be 18.

Katri told everyone today that she would never forget her childhood memories and never lose her sense of hope for the future either. She also said that she was determined never to stop seeing the magic in the world. I thought that was a great thing to say on your 18th birthday.

All of us who know Katri wish her a very happy birthday and also that all her adult years come to be ones filled with magic.  If anyone deserves it, she does.