Arne Merilai says risk-taking remains part of his life

Literary scholar and writer Arne Merilai says he could have died at least a dozen times through risky behaviour, which he says has not disappeared from his life. He spoke on Vikerraadio’s “Käbi ei kuku…” programme, ERR reported.

His daughter, Maria Merilai, works as a nurse and team leader in an ambulance crew in Tartu. She said she grew closer to her father after having a child at a very young age and falling out badly with the child’s father.

Maria is the youngest of four siblings, with three older brothers. She said her mother, Marina, studied Estonian philology and earned a master’s degree from the Academy of Theology. Marina now works as a chaplain at a care home.

Maria said she has been interested in medicine throughout her life and finds meaning in being there for people on what may be the hardest days of their lives. She added that she is not afraid to ask for help when she is struggling.

Merilai recalled being especially close to his maternal grandmother, who protected him when his parents wanted to punish him. He said he recognises a similar closeness in his relationship with Maria. He also said humour is important to him and that he inherited his sense of humour from his father.

Merilai said his father worked during the day and sometimes drank in the evenings, leaving his mother to do most of the parenting. He wanted to leave home as soon as possible. After his father suffered paralysis, Merilai said, he became a different person and later came to despise alcohol. Merilai said his father came from a family of 11 children.

Merilai said he wanted to do well at school but also got into a lot of mischief. He described both his mother and father as authorities in his life and said he began drinking alcohol at an early age, while still trying to keep the situation under control. He said studying remained his priority after he started university.