For the Readers

The most famous children's books in Sweden were written by Astrid Lindgren.  You might be interested in learning more about her.

https://www.literaryladiesguide.com/author-biography/astrid-lindgren/

Part of the Story

This tells part of the story why our Great-Grandparents decided to leave Sweden hoping for a better life in Amerika!

Click on the next line. You can turn off the sound half-way down the article.

Sweden 1868-1869

The Ekquist Family Photo

This is Grandma Teckla's family, with Teckla seated on her mother's lap. Where it all began for us here in America, those who immigrated from Sweden seeking a better life for their family. They had lost a son, Carl Gustav, who died at a year old in Sweden. Andrew came first. Great-Grandma Louisa followed her husband, as she came alone with two young daughters Ida and Ellen, pregnant in 1880. Louisa got as far as Florence, Wisconsin, couldn't find her husband who was working in a lumber camp. A Mrs. Olson took them in and she delivered her third daughter, Julia, in the middle of the night. That was BEFORE there was any such thing as legal or illegal immigration. Thanks to them, the rest of us are American citizens!

From left to right, Emil, Will, Andrew seated, Ellen, Julia (in front of Ellen and Ida), Ida, Louisa seated, Teckla, and Evan

Interesting Information

For those of you looking for information about the emigration of Swedes to North America, a friend shared this link with me.

I found it quite interesting...

https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emigrationen_fr%C3%A5n_Sverige_till_Nordamerika

Senior Discount

by Ron Osterberg

Waiting in line at Dunkin Donuts, I tried to remember the Spanish word for discount.  Was it descuente or descuento?  When my turn came to pay, I said, “Descuento por viejo por favor.” The clerks couldn’t suppress their giggle.  I botched it.  I asked for an old discount instead of senior discount, but I get the discount word right.

Gently, they told me that viejo was not a nice thing to say about someone, especially oneself – or about a discount.  That reminded me that as kids when someone asked, “How ya doin?”  Or, “Que pasa?” We replied, “Estoy bien, viejo conejo.”  I’m fine you old coot.  The clerks suggested that I say mayor, a more dignified word.

The next time I said, “Descuento para mayor por favor” and the lady smiled.  She liked being part of a game.  Several visits later one the clerks suggested “viejito” or “cute older man.”

A few visits later I mentioned that I was a grandfather, “Soy un abuelo.”  So, I asked, “Descuento para abuelo por favor?”  The lady behind the counter replied that she is an abuela or grandmother.  She didn’t look old enough to be a grandmother.  On the other hand, anyone under 50 looks young, especially if their skin is tan without many wrinkles.

They suggested I say, “Descuento para abuelito” and I said, “Senorita, descuento para abuelito por favor.”  She blushed slightly saying gracias.

The entire exchange took less than a minute, but each time it reminded me of a lost adventure.  Before going to UCLA, I wanted to go to college in Mexico City for a year.  I would have returned speaking fluent Spanish with a Mexican dialect.  I still don’t know why I didn’t do it.  I wish I knew that we grade our youthful choices carefully when we are viejitos.

Not Picky about Who She Likes

Ron Osterberg

Jennifer, owner of a dress shop in Black Rock, took a liking to Holly and walked her over to meet the owner of the nail salon next door.  Outside, Holly took a closer look at the salon’s front and froze, her smile vanished and she set her feet apart as if getting ready punch it out with an unseen opponent.  Leaning toward me, she said grimly, “That’s the place.  I’m sure it is. I don’t want to go in there.  I just don’t.”

Seeing Jennifer’s bafflement, Holly explained her sudden mood shift.  About a year earlier she went to that same nail solon in mid afternoon and found it locked.  Looking through the window, Holly saw a woman emerge from behind a barrier and unlock the door.  The woman explained that she didn’t want a black clientele and kept the door locked as a way of selecting her customers.  Holly waited about one millisecond, turned on her heel and walked out fuming.

Holly explained the incident and her feelings to Jennifer, but Jennifer urged Holly to at least meet the nail salon lady.  “It might not be the same person,” Jennifer said hopefully.  Holly agreed.  It was the same store, she was sure of it, but maybe the lady was different.  Maybe the lady from a year ago was not the owner.  Holly agreed that she should at least meet the lady.  However, walking through the door, Holly saw immediately that it was the same lady.  Holly, being Holly and not wanting to hurt anyone, smiled broadly and left saying nothing.  It took her a few minutes to decompress and smile happily again.

Scholars write volumes about acceptance of people not exactly like us and philosophers sometimes use the principle of Occam’s razor which can mean to take the simplest explanation as the best.  That’s true in Holly’s case.  The way I see it, she sees no sense in disliking someone before she meets them.  Holly puts it even more simply, “I am not picky about who I like.”

Holly is part of society’s glue or velcro.  She connects people and pulls us together creating the strong bonds we need in times of stress.  Most important, she does it without excluding or hating anyone.  We all agree that the world needs more engineers, scientists and people of letters, but even more does it need people like Holly who keep us smiling and liking one another.

Swedish American History

I found this link looking for something else, and wanted to share it with you! It gives another perspective of who we are as Swedish Americans.

Swedish American History

Have a Healthy, Prosperous and Happy New Year!!!