The house next door had been vacant for many months and now I saw an elderly couple going in and out of the house. It was late autumn of 2013 and the couple was to become our new neighbors.I didn't make any overtures, being a reserved Finlander and I really tried to avoid meeting them, silly as that was.
Eventually we met when I was going to move my truck away from our garage doors. "Hi! We're your new neighbors. I'm Jim Johnson and this is my wife Serpa" Jim and I shook hands.
"We lived in Milwaukee for many years and I had a carpet cleaning business that eventually wrecked my back. We've decided to retire in Ironwood. Serpa was born in Finland. We met in Milwaukee and married."
Serpa asked, "How long have you lived in this house?" Her English was superb, wrapped with a charming brogue.
"We moved in when I was five years old so that makes it sixty-two years."
I would later find out that Jim is an artist. I would later see his art hung on the walls in the house. His work is excellent, striking in depiction and form and detail. I admired his depiction of a European cathedral in particular.
Serpa was an interior decorator and she applied her talent to their new abode. I would walk through their house, stunned at her use of contrast to the white walls with dark-colored furniture and the paintings. Her kitchen has Scandinavian appointments, a hutch with an oak stain. The cupboards are all white. Above the stove is a plaque in Finnish, giving glory to God.
With winter fast approaching Sirpa asked if I would remove snow for them since Jim has debilitating back trouble and I consented, with one caveat. I would not take any money. Serpa's face glowed in relief. Actually I would have done it anyway, as I have for the several other families that rented this house. Jim would sneak a five-gallon can full of premium gas into our garage anyway.
Lois and I have dined with them and I was amazed at Serpa's kitchen table covered by signatures of their friends. I was honored that they asked us to sign. We also shared our troubles and triumphs and prayer requests.
I've learned how to handle Jim's rants against democrats in general but he still gets in a word or two. He wears a "Trump" cap and I just ignore it. Jim and Serpa have enriched our lives and we love them.
