Trip
to America
Updated 4.11.2005
In the end of the year 2004 I began to think that it would be lovely to meet
those "new" relatives, who I had found from America during the
springtime in 2004. I spoke about my idea to my sister Taimi, who also was very
exited about the trip. The decition was made and together the American part
we start the planning.
Because during the years in beginning 1900´s many relatives moved to America
from my grandfathers side as well as from granmothers side and still several aunts
and oncles later on, I knew that there will be many, many relatives. And I´d
learned, that they are in many states of US. Of course I wanted to meet of them
as many as possible. The planning of the trip itself was a wonderful
experience, but it is another story! So we decided that we´ll make a
"roundtrip" in three states and stay there three weeks.
Our first goal was Connecticut and cousin Helen Ahearn and her husband Bob in
Mystic. Helen is a grchild of my grfather Matti Pajaris´ brother Juho.
Helen and Bob took us to many places in Mystic and surround. We stayed
with them about a week.The only bad thing during that week was heat and
humidity. But it gave us possibility to spend more time with each others and
know us better!
Helen and Bob Ahearn
Helen and Bob also arranged a reunion of cousins to Vermont. In Mystic the
weather was rainy, but the longer we drove to Vermont, more sunny and
warmer became the weather. So it would again to be a lovely day. And so it was.
My little head began to be more and more spinning, so many new faces and
relatives I met. But, it was fantastic! More relatives than I could imagine.
Much new knowledge about the history one part of our family. Many new addresses
to write to. The day was in the end just too soon and we had to start
hometrip, about 120 miles.
Taimi-sister, Kathy Lagios, Michael Lagios, Helen, George Mattson, Inky
Rogsted, Karen Mattson, Bob,
George Lagios and Dorothy Rogsted. Kathy, George and Dorothy are sisters and
grchildren of Juho Pajari.
Dorothy and Inky Rogersted and their daughter Susan, who is now running the
campground. They arranged a fine day and place for the reunion.
In New York has lived also our cousin Seija-Leena already for 31 years.
She came to Mystic in the afternoon of our last day in Connecticut. I´m so
happy, that now also she has a connection to her relatives in US.
Bob, Helen, Taimi and Seija-Leena
The second part of our trip started on Sunday morning, July the 3rd. Helen and
Bob drow us to the airport of Hartford. We should fly from there first to
Millwaukee Mich. and then to Escanaba, Mich. In Millwaukee airport the heart
began to pump a little quicker: after every fly the plains were smaller and
smaller, the last one had 19 seats... Fortunetly they took all our luggages!
This flight took just one hour. The wiew from those planes were fine: we flew
over the Lake Michigan and over the coast of it.
On the Escanaba airport Lenore and Bill Usher from Watson were waiting.
Lenore is grdaughter of grandaunt Albertina Roiha. So now we could know
siblings from the other part of the family! This is interesting!
On the way to Watson we stopped for a lunch. It was very good, because it took
a while when I learned to understand Lenore and Bill. Though they are
Americans, their way of talking was a bit different I used with Helen and Bob.
The next day was July the 4th, the Independence day. Lenore and Bill were
waiting their children and their families for the BBQ. Perhaps also other
relatives would come. So we, Taimi and I helped cleaning corns. Then on the
afternoon to the yard came car after car and finally all three daughters of
Lenore and Bill had arrived with their husbands. Also Janets´son Jesse came
with his girlfriend as well as Lee, a grson with his girfriend. And again names
and faces were in sweet mess in my head! Lenore took photos of all of them and
named them, so it was a little easier to recignice them. Later on came Eileen,
Lenores sister.
Eileen, Lenore, Terttu and Taimi
Lenore had lot of old
pictures and knowledge about the history from family, because she had made
research about her roots. So we had much to discuss and check. Days were
flying, but we did had time to see also other parts of that area. We visited
also Eileens home in Cornell. There we met also Lenores´ and Eileens´ brother
Ronald. For Taimi and me it was a pleasant surprise, that Lenore, Eileen and
Ronald were talking Finnish, too.
Taimi, Ronald, his wife JoAnne and Eileen
On thursday we went with Lenore to Marquette, north from Watson. It was nice
too see such a little city. One thing we understood already was, that in those
cities were no big flat houses, most of homes were single ones. And in US the
architecture is not as jäykkää, as in Finland. The styles of the houses
were different and also colours were "individuals". At that trip we
also visited on the cabin of Lenores´ daughter Janet anh his husband Gary. The
wiew from that cabin closes your breath. In the distance you are able to see
Lake Superior.
At the same trip we visited at Garys´ work. He works in woods with
Finnish machines.
Lenore´s daughters Marilyn, Janet and Cindy repeard their grfathers´ old sauna.
We had possibility to use it many times. We really got good "löylyt"!
On saturday our trip turned to its next step. Joanne, Joel and Thomas
Dufresne came from St. Paul, Mn.
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