It started with a look at the progress of construction of the Feenstras’ new house and outbuildings. Arend is basically a one-man contracting team, with some of the children — mostly the boys — as trainee subcontractors learning on the job from Dad.

Acquiring materials, power tools, electrical service, etc., seems to have been simple enough; and luckily, Arend knows what he’s doing, as he mentioned that they have built other homes in Canada. So in addition to the house (which is acquiring a front deck at the moment), there will be a workshop, a combination schoolhouse/guest house, and goodness knows what else before the farm is finished. It does take time, though, and there have been delays; for example, the siding that was supposed to have arrived this week . . . didn’t.

All in all, though, it seems that if anyone can survive in difficult circumstances, the Feenstra family can. They are true pioneers.

And speaking of surviving, about halfway through the broadcast Arend mentioned that he will be going in tomorrow (whichever day that is, presumably Monday) for gall bladder surgery. And my reaction was:

Because over the years, I have heard horror stories about medical care — and especially hospital care — in Russia. Unless, of course, you happen to be a member of Putin’s inner circle.

But then we viewers were treated by Arend to a litany of the problems of medical care back in Canada: hours of waiting in emergency rooms, being sent home too soon after surgery, the entire medical system caring more about the money than the patient, etc. And then he told us how impressed he’s been with his care in Russia: the thoroughness of the pre-op testing, the personal concern of the doctors, the two-to-three-day stay in the hospital following surgery, etc.

By the end of the broadcast, he almost had me thinking I should head over there to have my back problems taken care of. But don’t worry — I came to my senses before doing anything rash, like checking to see whether Medicare would cover my plane fare.

So now we look forward to following the saga of Arend Feenstra’s recovery from gall bladder surgery, and his return to the construction phase of their settlement on the farm in Russia.

Which is precisely what my grandparents risked everything to escape from, all those years ago . . . for which I still thank them, each and every day.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
11/3/24