Thursday, January 7, 2010

Exciting News

We had another dry day, and almost sunny this morning. Tom and I went for a walk in the neighborhood. But that's not the exciting news. When I checked e-mail first thing this morning, I found a blog comment from someone unexpected. In 2006 Tom and I traveled in Scandinavia. We both have ancestors from Norway and Sweden, and Tom has done extensive genealogy. Before we left he tried to make contact in some of the villages where forebears had lived. Just before we left we heard from a contact who had located some distant cousins of mine still living in the ancestral villages. We set up a meeting. I will never forget that afternoon. Yvonne Nonis is a fourth cousin related through my paternal great grandfather. We met at her house in Skamhed, outside Dala-Jarna in central Sweden. She and her son Fredrik, who was fluent in English, escorted us through the old village. Many of the buildings there were 150 - 200 years old. This field is the site where my great-great grandmother lived. This stream was the source of their household water. I get chills still thinking about my connection to that beautiful village. When we got back to Yvonne's house, more cousins arrived. May-Gull Larsson and Inga-Britt Hagstrom, cousins to each other, but not related to Yvonne, are my third cousins, related through my great grandfather. Here are Yvonne and her husband Rolf with a couple who were friends with May-Gull and were chauffeuring them around in their car. Here is Yvonne with her son Fredrik. And here are cousins May-Gull and Inga-Britt. We have sent Christmas cards and letters each December, and several times we have received cards back form May-Gull. I treasure them. And then, this morning, there was Inga-Britt commenting on my blog! I had included my blog address in my letter, and it just so happens that Inga-Britt is a blogger too, now, so she looked me up when our letter finally arrived there this week! - You will find Inga-Britt at http://tegeltak.blogspot.com. Her blog is written in Swedish, of course, and I can only make out a few words, but I can read her photos. She is a very talented fiber artist. In fact, I must tell you a story about her. After gathering at Yvonne's house, we were suddenly being rushed away on another tour, so suddenly that I did not bring my camera! I so regret not having photos, but the pictures are clear in my memory. Inga-Britt and May-Gull took us to the church that was the family church of my ancestors. Then they took us to Inga-Britt's grandmother's house. Inga-Britt had recently lost her mother, so it was painful to be in a house full of memories, but inside were her looms, and samples of her weaving. Tom's mother was a weaver, so we knew what to look for and we could tell she was very expert. We made approving comments and showed great interest, and were very touched by her sharing this special place. It was getting late, and Yvonne offered us dinner, but before Inga-Britt left us, she said we must stop at her home. She had something for us. So after dinner Yvonne and Fredrik showed us the way. Inga-Britt's house is in a dramatic setting, on the bank of a wide river that was in it's spring flood stage. It was June, and daylight went on forever. She invited us inside her home and showed us three woven table runners and said we must choose one. I was so thrilled I was almost speechless. And this is what I choose.
It just so happens that when I put away my Christmas runner last weekend, I selected Inga-Britt's runner to place on my dining room table, remembering the day I received it.
And now, today, there she is on my computer!

12 comments:

  1. This is indeed exciting. It's moments like this that keep genealogy alive. These experiences make you break out in goose bumps. I'm thrilled for you.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I am glad you hooked up with relatives and that one of them contacted you in this way. I can't imagine doing that with my Korean relatives, especially the ones still in North Korea.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Whew! What an exciting and unique experience. It's a small world.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wow, what a wonderful experience with meeting your family members. It must have been wonderful to actually be where your ancestors were from! And the runner is beautiful and what an amazing coincidence that you chose the runner and then the computer brought you another gift!

    ReplyDelete
  5. how cool. my best friend lives in Kristianstad Sweden which is so. Sweden. Her husband is from Dalarna up north. I was at one time married to a swede and we traveled there to visit his family. A friend of his gave me a lovely runner she had made in blekinge colors. I treasure it. That runner you were given is beautiful-love the colors. Technology is wonderful

    ReplyDelete
  6. Wow! That really is something! You just never know how we are all connected in this big world. How great that you can keep in touch. Beautiful table runner, too!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oh wow, Linda! That is too too wonderful! I would have been jumping up and down if that happened to me. What a beautiful area. I'd love to see Norway and Sweden. I had a penpal in Sweden and strangely enough I remember her name. Kirsten Ahling. Someday, we'll have to mosey on over that way.

    Your table runner is fabulous! Great choice! Such talent in your family!

    ReplyDelete
  8. When I go to the places my ancestors lived I can almost feel them walking beside me. It's nice to have roots.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Linda this is fascinating! I am constantly amazed at how blogging has enriched the lives of so many.

    The table runner is gorgeous.

    I hope that you have a wonderful weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Its nice to meet relatives from your distant family tree. I can understand you being excited. - Dave

    ReplyDelete
  11. Fantastic post Linda, and how wonderful for you, an experience of a lifetime. Inga-Britt's table runner will be a treasured heirloom of happy memories. It is very beautiful and I thought all your photos of family in Sweden fantastic!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Beautiful weaving,, and nice story Linda!

    ReplyDelete

I would love to read your comments. Since I link most posts to Facebook, you may comment there if you do not have an account. I have eliminated Anonymous comments due to spammers.