With a fully packed car and enough hydration for the trip, Blake and Erik Toivonen drove out of Oulu and up north towards Lapland to visit Veera Toivonen, Erik's grandmother and the sweet old lady of the family.

Veera raised Blake alongside her husband Anton in their quiet place, deep in the woods of Northern Finland. It was enough to feel secluded, but close enough to get food and supplies whenever they needed some. Her house felt like a log cabin, with how it looked from the outside, but with two stories and three bedrooms, you could tell it was well-suited for a small family.

Just like a typical old lady, Veera loves to cook for others. Be it family, friends or a surprise visitor, she will try her best to make you feel at home. She's someone you just can't get mad at.

Hours have passed and the sun was glowing orange on a late night in Northern Finland. Erik was passed out in the shotgun seat, as Blake turns into the very road his mother lives on. It was a gravel road with a variety of rocks and stones around, but the big male reindeer had no concern, since he has taken his Mercedes down this road many times.

The Mercedes drove down the rough road with a cloud of dust forming in the back, as it passed through the dense forest bordering each side of the road, with houses showing up every few kilometers. It wouldn't be long until Blake turned his four wheels into the driveway of his mother's yard, going up a slight hill before stopping right beside the house, where Veera was already preparing dinner inside.

Blake poked his son on the shoulder. With a snort and a grunt, Erik opened his eyes, looking straight out the windshield. "(Oh... we're here.)"

"(Yes, Erik, we're at grandma's.)" Blake chuckled from his son's sleeping antics. "(Let's grab our stuff and head inside.)"

The two big reindeer stepped out of the car and made their way to the trunk, popping it and grabbing their luggage. It's the middle of July, and Erik felt quite tired. Blake can't blame him one bit. At the beginning of the month, the two were travelling around Eastern Europe, first playing an exhibition game against the Slovenian U20 team with the Finnish selection as visitors. It was a tight game that saw Finland losing only by one point. It struck a chord with the team, but it was soon forgotten.
The entire team then went on to Croatia for a few days and enjoyed the tour around Zagreb before taking on the Croatian U20 selection. It would turn out to be a boost of confidence, as Finland beat Croatia 74-67 in a game where both teams fought, but Finland was just better with Erik scoring the most points and rebounds for his country. With smiles on their face, the Finns returned home.

Forward 2 weeks later, now Blake and Erik get to enjoy the seclusion Veera provides with her home in Lapland. As much as Erik likes to stay connected with his friends online, he needs at least a small break, which you can tell from the recent travels he and his dad completed.

As the two entered the front door, there was the little old lady with antlers, ready to give the two big men a hug and a kiss.

"(Blake! Erik! You came just in time!)" Veera greeted them with enthusiasm as always, and Blake leaned over to give his mother a hug and a kiss on the muzzle. Erik chuckled a little bit, then Veera signed him down, and with a hug and a kiss on the cheek, Veera completed her warm welcome.

Blake sniffed around, noticing Veera's cooking in the kitchen. She has made one of Blake's favourite dishes: Lohikeitto, a savoury salmon soup, is sitting on the stove, steaming away. The two travellers went to drop their bags in their respective rooms before walking back to the kitchen where they grabbed bowls to help themselves to dinner. Blake carried his mother's bowl, but she wouldn't let him.

"(Son, I am not that old, I can carry my own bowl.)" She complained, but Blake could only chuckle as he put the bowl in front of her, with the spoon in it. The two men sat on each side of her and begun to dig into her bowls.

"(Delicious as always, mom.)" Blake smiled as he slurped his spoon. Veera just chuckled. "(You better like it. I've been making it for over 50 years.)". That comment made even Erik giggle a little. Veera was known for having a little bit of a temper, and being a lot shorter than her son and grandson, the two men found it adorable, but they knew they respected and loved each other.

After a few bowls of warm soup, the three cleaned up the table and washed the plates before Blake and Veera headed to the living room. The TV was off, since Veera doesn't watch much, aside from the news and the occasional replay of a show she likes. Blake sat down on the same couch, while Erik was on his way to his room. "(I'm gonna crash for the night.)" He says before he yawned big.

"(Good night Erik.)" Blake and Veera wished their darling a good night sleep. The door closed behind them and Veera sat down on her love seat and picked up her quilt, as Blake poured himself a glass of water.
"(So, my son. You're off to America soon.)" the old lady began the conversation. Blake nodded as he took a gulp of water.

"(Yes, we're leaving at the end of the month.)" Blake said confidently. There was a hint of doubt in his tone. He knew perfectly well this adventure will not be easy. America is not Europe. Different culture, different people, a different way of life, and for the first time in years, Blake felt the butterflies in his stomach.

"(It's a big move, Blake.)" Veera replied as she carefully knitted away on her quilt. "(And I know you have been around quite a lot. You have seen so much of this world, and remembering you say just how much you like to see new places... it just makes me happy that you get to do that in your life.)"

Blake nodded. "(Yes, mother. But...)" he stopped as he leaned himself forward, forming his hands into a ball, elbows on his thighs.

Veera stopped, raising her head to look at her son. "(What's wrong?)"

He shifted in his seat. "(This is not Europe we're talking about. It's America. Land of opportunity and the wild west. There is good and there is bad, and I know that's how it is with everyone other place I have been to. I'm just... nervous about leaving you behind here.)"

His mother put the quilt away and got off her chair as she walked over to Blake and stood in front of him. She could sense that Blake was nervous about leaving his mother behind. This would be a different story if his father were still alive, but she was alone, with the closest neighbours living a mile or so away from her. At 73 years old, she wasn't the youngest anymore, and she has been dealing with arthritis for the past 10 years. Maintaining her house is nearly impossible for her, as the only thing she can do is clean where she can reach, and with her current height, it's not that far high.

"(Blake...)" she began to speak. "(I'm your mother, and I love you. But you don't have to worry about me. I can get help when I need it and I have been able to survive here on my own for many years now. And you know that.)" She sat down and padded her son on his back, rubbing it gently and to the best of her ability. Blake nodded slightly. The thought of being thousands of miles away from family still seemed bothersome, but as his mother continued, the thought eased.

"(I want you to go there and start something new.)" she smiled. "(You are looking for new challenges and I encourage you to discover new things, because that's who you are. You want to see more and do more, and I'm proud of you for that. Don't stop what you're doing just because I'm getting old, Blake. I'll always be here, taking care of things, with some help. Just like it has been for the last 8 years.)"

"(Yes, mom.)" Blake sighed. 8 years ago, His father Anton was rushed to a hospital due to a heart attack he was having while trying to chop firewood outside. Blake got the news while he was in Helsinki for a business meeting with staff of the Helsinki Norsemen. He cancelled his plans and went back to Lapland the same night. Blake managed to see his father one last time. The doctors were not giving Anton any good news, as his heart was very weak and not functioning as it should. There was no surgery available that could fix it. The Toivonens had to face the reality that this was it for Anton. They had to let him go.
3 days later, Anton died in his sleep, surrounded by family. That's all Veera and her children could ask for. The funeral was well attended with family, friends and neighbours showing up. Anton's death was an indifferent reason for family to reunite, but it seemed to pull them together, and it was needed when there's distance between loved ones.

Blake gathered his thoughts, taking a deep breath as Veera leaned up to kiss his cheek. He cracked a little smile.

"(Are you alright now, son?)" Veera asked, looking up to her tall son.

"(Yes, mom. I'm alright. Very much so.)" Blake replied and leaned down to hug her. At least for a while, Blake was rid of a big worry. Veera cured it with the comfort she was able to provide, and Blake knew how much it means to him. Mother knows best, and she knew this move to America was what he wanted.

"(I'm glad.)" Veera went on. "(Now let's go to sleep. I can always finish that thing later.)" she chuckled as she made her way to the bathroom.

"(Yeah. Now we're here, and we'll make the best of it.)" with a nod and a smile, Blake got off the couch and watched his mom return a smile.

The hardest part of his journey was yet to come, but for now, home was where the heart is.