For Arja Kari — my wife, my partner, my Madam Courage

This book is for you, Arja.

From the day we met, your courage, warmth, and spirit shaped every step of my journey. You carried with you the light of Finland’s birch forests, the strength of your family, and the boundless curiosity that led us across continents and through life’s many trials.

You were never just beside me — you were my compass, my strength, my home. Your laughter softened the hardest days, your wisdom steadied every storm, and your love gave meaning to it all.

Though you are no longer here in this world, every page of this book holds your voice, your presence, your memory. It is a tribute to the extraordinary woman you were: a daughter, a mother, a friend, and above all, my wife — my Madam Courage.

This story belongs to you, Arja, as does my heart — always.

With eternal love,
Martin

For Arja Kari

To my beloved wife, Arja —

Through every winding road and quiet sunset, you have been my anchor and my compass.
This journey, like so many in our lives together, was shaped by your patience, your steady courage, and your unwavering love.

When the heat of the outback pressed down, your presence brought comfort.
When the road stretched endlessly before us, your laughter gave it meaning.
You have been more than a travelling companion — you have been my partner in every challenge, my joy in every discovery, and my reminder that home is not a place, but a heart we share.

This book is dedicated to you, whose strength, wisdom, and light have guided me not only to Nitmiluk, but through the greatest journey of all — our life together.

With all my love,
Martin

In Loving Memory of Arja Kari

Behind 52 Windows in Life: Humor, Humanity & Hope lies a love that continues to shine beyond time. Though my beloved wife, Arja Kari, is no longer physically present, her spirit, laughter, and wisdom live within every word I have written.

This collection is more than a book—it is a tribute to a partnership that shaped my life, inspired countless reflections, and infused ordinary moments with extraordinary meaning.

May these pages stand as a lasting dedication to her memory: a reminder that love endures, that inspiration never fades, and that the truest stories are those written not only with ink, but with the heart.

In Loving Memory of Arja Kari

To my dearest wife, Arja Kari, whose journey beyond this life has left an emptiness no words can ever fill.

Though you are no longer here to share the laughter and the quiet moments, your love remains woven into the fabric of my days. Your wisdom, warmth, and grace continue to guide me, reminding me that even in absence, love is eternal.

Beggars and Other Comedians carries your memory within its pages. For it was your spirit that taught me to look at life with compassion, to smile at its ironies, and to embrace its trials with courage.

This book, and every word I write, is a testament to you—
a love that endures beyond time,
a presence that death cannot erase.

The Third Face of Coins

Dedicated to the Memory of Arja Kari

Every page of this book carries with it the quiet strength and wisdom of my beloved wife, Arja Kari.

Her life was a reminder that love is not measured in years but in the depth of its presence. Though she is no longer here to walk beside me, her spirit endures—guiding my reflections, softening my judgments, and reminding me always to see beyond the surface of life’s many “faces.”

The Third Face of Coins is more than an exploration of society; it is, at its heart, a continuation of the dialogue Arja and I shared. Her memory is the compass by which these words find their way, and her love remains the third face of every coin I turn.

Dedication

To my beloved wife, Arja Kari —

You were my constant light, my greatest friend, and the quiet strength behind every word I wrote.
Your love filled my days with warmth and gave my dreams a home.
Even though you are no longer beside me, your spirit lives within every page, every story, every hope I’ve ever shared.

This book is a reflection of the simple, beautiful life we built together — a life shaped by your kindness, your laughter, and your unwavering love.

Your memory will forever be my compass.

Always and forever,
Martin

Echoes Between Languages

Dedication

To Arja Kari

You were the morning light that warmed my days,
the quiet hand that steadied my journey,
the laughter that filled the silence of ordinary hours.

Across oceans and continents we walked together,
rooted in love,
raising children who carried our joy forward,
building a home that was less a place than a harmony of hearts.

Your patience taught me simplicity.
Your strength taught me trust.
Your love taught me what it means to live fully.

Now you rest in a realm my eyes cannot see,
yet I feel you in every breeze,
in the whisper of trees,
in the hush of twilight skies.
Even absence is not absence—
it is the shape of your presence pressed into my soul.

This book bears your name as much as mine,
for every page is touched by your spirit,
every word carries the echo of our shared life,
every silence holds the grace you left behind.

I write, I remember, I love—
not only for myself,
but for us,
for the two lives bound as one,
still walking, still whispering,
still eternal.

Martin

Dedication

To my beloved wife, Arja Kari—

For all the years we have walked side by side, through laughter, through struggle, and through the quiet, tender moments that make life truly meaningful. You have been my companion, my anchor, and my greatest inspiration.

This book, like so much of my life’s work, carries your spirit within it. Your love has given me strength, your patience has guided me, and your unwavering faith in me has made this journey possible.

And to our precious grandchildren—Sarah, Patrick, Mikey, Nick, Abhay, Tara, Cobal, and Mitchell—may you always carry with you the joy, wonder, and love that your grandmother and I have shared throughout our lives.

Everything I write, everything I dream, is brighter because of you.