The third part of my trip
On monday, 11th of July it was time to say farwell to
Michigan. Again I was swallowing tears. You see, when you stay several days
among same people, especially relatives, you really do feel them as your
family. And because you never know about the future…
Joanne, Joel, Thomas, Taimi and me started this part of the trip. Have
to say, that Joels´ car was quite full, but however comfortable! Joanne
and Joel had told me in the spring about their plans for this part of the trip.
So I knew, that the last week of it would be very busy. And I was very eager of
this part, because in Minnesota I would meet my closest relative in US .
Joanne and Joel had 8 albums of old photos with them. We planned with Joanne,
that we try to look all those magnificiant photos during the long trip, about 8
hours. Can you guess, how many albums we went throu? Just two!!! We had so much
to talk to, and I also had to give some brake for my brains of all the talking.
I have to say, that after two weeks´ trying to understand everything in English
was very hard for my brains. You see, I´d learned my English more than 40 years
ago and not had needed to use it until I found you relatives from US! As I
earlier told to Helen, Lenore and Joel, I had the only dictionaries from
the year 1964, real relics! Well, I bought a new one before the trip for sure,
and I REALLY needed it!
I had totally forgotton, that we will meet cousin Charles Mattson during
the way from Michigan to Minnesota. Helen did told me about the meeting before
my trip. Forgive me, Charles, that I forgot you. There was so much... I know
that also you are able to read this story. So I was suprised, that when we
stopped in Wausau, Wisconsin, for lunch, you were there waiting for us! It was
a very lovely surprise to me!
Joanne, Joel, Charlie and Gen Mattson, me and Taimi in Wausau, Wi
Oh, how much talking again! And again how much new knowledge to me! I
had to pick up my laptop from the car to save all that. Charlie is a grson of my
grfathers´ brother Juho. Again a new link to the family! And again more work
for my brains to put all the pieces of the puzzle into their own places.
Forgive me all of you, many times I´m still lost!
How can the last name of Charlie and other siblings of that branch of Pajaris´
have a different last name? I have been told, that when Juho Pajari came to
America, he was in the first months working as a daylabour. The official who
payed the wages did not know how to write the name Pajari, so he asked what is
the name of your father. It was Matti, so Juho Pajari got a new last name:
Mattson, meaning a son of Matti!
Gen, Charlie and me
After the long and very enjoyable lunch we drow to St. Paul, Mi, where
Joanne and Joel are living. Because we all were quite tired for the long and
memorable day, we did go just for a short walk to the shore gate of the river
Mississippi with Joel. On tuesday Joanne took us to the Mall of America. I
remember again a funny story from the messages from the spring. Joanne wanted
to know, what we like to see, when we are with them. She told that Joel loves
history and she loves shopping. There in St. Paul are lot of shops and of
course the Mall. My little brains tried again to do something, but there was no
"clik". So I had to ask her, what in earth this Mall is. She wrote,
that she NEVER could understand that there are people, who do not know what
Mall is! So she told me what it is. We had decided, that we will be in the Mall
just couple of hours, because in the evening brother of Joel was coming
for the picnic. The real time we were in Mall was about 6-7 hours! Well, we did
had a little rush for the picnic!
Joanne and Taimi on the cocoa and coffee brake in Mall
Taimi, David and
Joanne
To the coffee table Joanne brought a cake!
For Joanne and me it was very difficult to go to sleep in the evening,
because we had so much to talk to. Though we both knew, that Wednesday again
will be quite a tuff day, we talked, talked and talked... There were so many
things to ask, to tell, to discuss! We really wanted to know each others
better. And both of us felt that we are like very close sisters. Our chemistry
was as alike.
Joel is very interested in history. When we were in the sightseeing –
tour with him in St. Paul and its´ nabourhood on Wednesday we heard very much
about the history of that part of US. It was very interesting. The river
Mississippi has been in a big role during those times, when English people came
to US some hundred years ago. The wiews among the river are fantastic. And when
you are on the other shore of the river, you could never understand that there
is quite a big city St. Paul, because there are so much parks first in the city
and especially on the shore of Mississippi.
Taimi and Joel
Joel also took us to a lovely little waterfall called Minnihaha. I just
love that indian name of the waterfall!
How time flies! It was time again to go further. Had to say goodbye to
St. Paul and a lovely home of Joanna, Joel and Thomas. Fortunately they were
with us (driving us!) to the next step. The final goal, Floodwood and
Grand Rapids were waiting!
The
story still is continuing...