Genealogy and Museums Spark Grandma’s Imaginations Come Alive

There is something special, very hard to describe about Swedish Grandmother’s softly expressed intent on sharing customs and traditions with grandchildren.

I was fortunate to experience this Swedish nurturing firsthand, and to watch it as my mother was magically transformed into a mentor, teacher, tour guide into the mythical love of ethnic traditions and lore.

Growing up in Chicago among so many Swedes helps keep connections alive.

Traditions in the home, baking, foods, customs are an immersion linking experience to our Swedish roots.

Writing, calling and visits back and forth translate into a desire to remember roots and exercise family bonds that go back generations.

Writing my book: My Maja. A Grandson’s Tribute weaves together so much of my highly treasured experiences as a Swedish American.

Genealogy activities build upon and help explain upbringing, people in our lives and connections to our childhood experiences. The photo above marks an important event in family history.

Staged at a train station in Sweden, my Grandma Maja and my mother and her sister and brother as children, prepare to return to America.

After the tragic death of Maja’s very young husband-father they spent a year with Swedish family in Sollefteå.

Guided by family, photos, professional genealogy experts help sort out documents. Our Swedish heritage is strengthened with historical background to augment experiences.

To enjoy the beauty of hand embroidery from grandma so lovingly passed along is a great treasure. The physical, emotional and spiritual bonds of our Swedish connections grow each day building on the gift of our past.