RE: Finland 2.0 is in the planning...
Man, I really appreciate that clarification at the start. When you said it was the end, I thought it was the end of all things. I just rewatched Lord of the Rings, so I thought maybe they got it wrong and the Ring of Power had fallen into the hands of the dark lord and we were all doomed. Now that I know we're safe, I can take a breath and stop for a minute.
It sounds like the trip has been exactly what you hoped it would be, specifically the time with your family. I'm so glad that your niece has taken a liking to you as sometimes kids can be persnickety.
That will be fun to go back! Speaking from experience, you have to build on the momentum, so if you want to go back, plan it now. Don't wait and think about it or you might not make it back any time soon.
You don't look like you're almost 50, but that's just my opinion. And I say that as a man who is happily married to a beautiful woman. Ha ha! :)
Enjoy the rest of your time there!
This bit made me laugh! The way you felt the need to clarify! Yeah, I’m over 48 and inevitably will turn 50 (unless the One Ring is indeed in the hands of Sauron and then we’re all screwed!)
The trip has been everything we wanted and more in every way and I’m sure after a few weeks at home we will only feel that more and more. We have a lot of photos which we need to sort through, a lot! Like 12,000 or so and we plan to print one of those books you can get done in line to highlight a few of the best ones.
Ha ha, I thought you might appreciate that. Hey, as I always say, "I like having birthdays. It beats the alternative." Fortunately, I believe that the movies actually got it correct this time and that the One Ring actually was destroyed and Sauron's spirit was obliterated.
That's great that it has been such a good trip. Photo books are a great way of remembering trips. I have not gotten many of them made. One of the things that always bothered me about most of the sites was that when you use them, you grant them an irrevocable license to use your photos for whatever they want for as long as they want, and you're not entitled to any compensation whatsoever. That doesn't sit quite right with me. I ended up using Costco because I figured they have enough photos they can use for marketing that they probably don't need to use mine.