In 2004 I found in a dusty attic, my Grandma Maja’s Sweden to America steamer trunk filled with buried treasures. Dozens of photos, artifacts, and more. What a happy shock. Maja and I were reunited as I tenderly examined each special piece of her lifetime memories she left behind. It had been over 30 yearsContinue reading “Swedish Love Letters: Genealogy Tears and Years”
Tag Archives: Swedish American
Swedish and Nordic-Scandia Wannabes
There are lots of good reasons to be a Swede these days. Many books come out lately celebrating the ways Nordic-Scandinavian people look at life and choose certain attractive and favorable lifestyle habits. Personally, although I did not directly choose to have Swedish genes and chromosomes, I am very pleased and proud to be aContinue reading “Swedish and Nordic-Scandia Wannabes”
Swedish Immigrant Great Depression Kids- The Fallout
Grandma Maja was one of the finest teachers I have ever met. Her three children , Delores, Peter, and Linnea without a father learned the meaning of a lifestyle philosophy: “a stitch in time saves 9”. The incredibly hard times of America’s Great Depression tested the character of widow Maja and her three Swedish AmericanContinue reading “Swedish Immigrant Great Depression Kids- The Fallout”
Swedish Immigrant Regret: Looking Backwards
Meeting the challenges of leaving much loved Sweden and relatives and choosing to settle in America must have been a mixed bag of emotions. It takes a whole book: My Maja A Grandson’s Tribute to sort out for the reader my views of my grandmother’s decision to set down roots in America and incurring terribleContinue reading “Swedish Immigrant Regret: Looking Backwards”
Living Monuments to Ancestors as Tributes
The feeling to leave a tribute behind to honor my Swedish Grandmother Maja carried me through the ordeals of publishing a book. But, Why? How? “WE are the “living monuments” to our ancestors. Shirley Abbott once said, “We all grow up with the weight of history on us. Our ancestors dwell in the attics ofContinue reading “Living Monuments to Ancestors as Tributes”
Tech Tools Boost Preserving Family History
Today’s smart phones in tandem with Microsoft Word processing apps can empower most everyone to collect and share family history. Electronic scrapbooking gives the average person the tools needed to weave together old photos, stories and genealogy family trees. My Maja A Grandson’s Tribute is an example of what an iPhone and Microsoft Word canContinue reading “Tech Tools Boost Preserving Family History”
Swedish Edge? Culture, Heritage, Tradition
I grew up believing that my very Swedish grandmother was invincible and slaying a dragon would be no big deal. Not that she spent one minute of our 21 years together trying in any way to convince me of her super powers. I somehow just knew she was like a knight, a powerful Viking SwedeContinue reading “Swedish Edge? Culture, Heritage, Tradition”
Grandma Maja’s Swedish Time Machine
My Grandma Maja, like so many Swedish grandparents might have secretly hoped to one day be remembered by her loved ones. Imagine her surprise to see her face portrayed on the cover of a book at her local library shelf. In Maja’s book are over 50 pages of favorite and meaningful images that bring MajaContinue reading “Grandma Maja’s Swedish Time Machine”
Swedish Adventure & Destiny
Death plays a part in how we look at and approach and pursue our destiny. My Swedish Grandma Maja taught me many profound life lessons. Some of her teaching was done by storytelling. Some lessons she taught by example. Maja taught me the value of thoughtful decisions make for good choices I like the illustrationContinue reading “Swedish Adventure & Destiny”
Ball of String Memories: Hard Times Resilience 1929-1949
I was so inspired by my Swedish grandmother’s struggles during the Great Depression and how she responded to adversity challenges as an immigrant I wrote a book about her. She is my hero. Most people know that once immigrants arrive in a new land they will face tough times. During the years 1948-1969 I spentContinue reading “Ball of String Memories: Hard Times Resilience 1929-1949”
Maja's Blessings 