Category Archives: Uncategorized

Over the years exploring family history and genealogy the story of my Grandmother’s oldest brother, Aron was especially interesting. Aron left Sweden to find opportunities in Portland Oregon after working in the family Deli business in Sollefteå. He became Swedish American moving back and forth. The following image comes from a local Swedish newspaper accountContinue reading “Spanish Influenza Kills Young Swedish American”

All my life mt beloved Swedish Grandma Maja told me hundreds of stories about life in Sweden. Sweden became a kind of mystical enchanting place of beauty and wonder. I yearned to see it for myself but all I had was word stories. I did not have story or picture books to use to discoverContinue reading “Taking Action To Discover Your Roots”

Genealogy is the process of understanding the history of one’s family. Genealogists seem to believe in the resurrection, that is, bringing the dead back to life, or, at least, finding awakening to bring forth perceptive and helpful material. For me, my family history efforts have in many ways brought my grandmother back from the deadContinue reading “DNA TESTS FOR DIGGING UP FAMILY ROOTS”

Life is often reduced to acknowledge that there exists for all living things a prevalent inescapable struggle for survival. The principle of, “Survival of the fittest” explains that individuals, or whole species must be “adaptable”, or die. There would be those that claim that highly valued traits of human grit and resilience can be passedContinue reading “SCANDINAVIAN GRIT AND SISU: ELIXIR AGAINST ADVERSITY”

“Life would be infinitely happier if we could only be born at the age of eighty and gradually approach eighteen.” Mark Twain Being curious about our primal past appears to be a universal calling that nudges us to seek to know about our ancestral roots toward becoming enlightened about from where and whom we haveContinue reading “GAINING 2020 HINDSIGHT: BENEFITS OF STUDYING FAMILY HISTORY”

Letter writing is becoming a lost art. In my youth observing my grandma Maja writing letters home to Sweden on this desk is a beautiful cherished memory. Being in America while her beloved family was located an ocean away in Northern Sweden brought on terrible homesickness and perhaps feelings of regret leaving them behind. LetterContinue reading “LETTER TO GRANDMA IN HEAVEN”

That every child might have a grandmother that combines features as: best friend, role model, world traveler and warrior prepared to find grit and gumption to rise after every knockdown adversity that put her to the test. I had such an amazing grandmother and I will spend the rest of my life illuminating her legacy.Continue reading “Maja’s Great Depression Mosaic”

Too long have the skeletons of women heroes who as warriors fought against the Great Depressions in the trenches of quietly suffering American homes been carelessly hidden and long forgotten. History of the 1930’s has been unkind taking a pass exposing despairing details and day to day stories of:  humiliating unemployment, failed businesses, mortgage foreclosures,Continue reading “REMEMBERING GRANDMA MAJA: FORGOTTEN WOMAN HERO OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION”

Welcome to our site. I am happy to invite you to share in the life of a grandson paying tribute to a very special lady: my Grandma Maja. Grandma Maja was born in Solleftea Northern Sweden in 1897. She came to the United States at first thinking she would visit Chicago in 1922. Grandma MajaContinue reading “ABOUT SHARING GRANDMA MAJA’S STORY: A FORGOTTEN WIDOW OF AMERICA’S GREAT DEPRESSION SOON TO BE REMEMBERED”

Welcome to my BLOG. I am glad you are here for a visit. Come and spend some time with me as I remember my Grandma Maja and share her amazing life with you. You might have an interest in Swedish genealogy as she was born in 1897. You might have an interest in “grit” andContinue reading “Introducing Donnie”