All is well with me. I am in my 34th years as a facilitator, mediator , instructor and management consultant. While I continue to ponder what to do when I grow up, I savor my most important roles as mother, grandmother, aunt and wife. My husband Sam stepped down from the Minnesota Supreme Court at the mandatory retirement age of 70 and returned to his law firm. He will not be hearing the Norm Coleman’s election appeal. (But, as a side FYI, Judge Denise Ducharme Reilly, an ASIJ alum, served on the three-judge panel that just ruled on the legal process of the MN senatorial election).

All but one of our children and spouses still live nearby and the grand children keep us active and entertained. Greta (42) attends law school after years as a social worker and hopes to practice immigration law. Her husband, Rogelio is a photographer. Their family includes Gonzalo (10) and Manola (2). Chrystina (40) is a free-lance photo stylist who resides in New York and travels to project locations around the country. Ben (36) continues as an accountant for Securian Financial and wife, Cassandra works as a registered nurse. They are proud parents of four daughters – Camille (9), Isabelle, (7), Lillian (2) Gabrielle (1). Cami and Bella are thrilled that the White House is home to girls “that look like us.”Leif (28) is a bike courier for a legal documents firm in downtown Minneapolis and Luke (25) works as a financial analyst for Slocum and Associates. Jai (24) is an officer with the Lakeville, MN police department and his wife Bethany is a mental health counselor while studying for her master’s degree in social work.

We are relieved that my father in Finland is recovering slowly but successfully from a heart attack six months ago. He was able to attend Easter dinner at my brother Aki’s home. Aki’s family will be visiting the U.S.A. in June. His wife, Birgit, will be celebrating her 40th birthday by running in Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth, MN.

I treasure my unique connection to the ASIJ clan. It is a relationship that is impossible to categorize. Every encounter is instantly fulfilling and fun no matter how long the separation. Please visit if your travels bring you our way!

Mirja

www.mirjaphanson.com