The fourth part of the trip
Home of Vikki
I was in webb-contact to Vikki a couple of times in the spring. I told
her, that during my trip I really do not want to stay in hotels, if it is not
needed. I want to spend so much time with relatives as it is possible. So
Joanne and Joel did arranged with Vikki Amendola, a grgrdaughter of graunt
Albertina, that we will go next to her farm on wednesday 13th of
July. She has her farm quite near to Duluth. She has there horses, dogs, ducks
and so on. She says that she has a farm for geriatrick horses and all other
animals. Well, she really do have many very old horses, for instance Tarzan,
who is now 36 years old and has been hers for 35 years. He got last year a
priviledge to carry Vikki to her wedding on his back! At that age! And what a
happening it was! WOW!
Vikki and Tarzan
Vikki had asked relatives to picnic for that day. It was lovely, because
I did have again a possibility to meet new members of the family. In Vikkis´
farm there were Carole, another grgrdaughter of Albertina, with her husband and
Leslie, a grson of Albertina with his wife and his son David. Leslie was my
first contact in spring 2004 to the branch of graunt Albertina. The story about
finding Leslie is like a chapter from an adventure novel. But, I´m not telling
it now! Maybe later.
David, son of Leslie, Claudia, wife of Leslie, Leslie himself, Joel,
mother-in-law of Vikki,
Carole and her husband
I have to say, that I was very tired at that time. I had been for two
weeks going through quite a trip in my mind. Forgive me Carole, Leslie and
Vikki, I surely was not the best visitor at that day. But our meeting however
was something special to me. To meet more relatives, close ones, again. To know
you better. Allthough all of us had been in contact more or less via net,
meeting each others by "nose to nose" is very much different. You
never can tell everything about yourself writing as much as you tell just
beeing there. When you meet, you are telling about you not only with words, but
also by your behavior, by your "body language". You bet, that I
really do miss ALSO you there as much as I do miss the relatives in Connecticut
and Michigan. You were so lovely to me and my sister Taimi, that we will
never forget it. And fortunately afterwords you have shown me in your messages,
that you understood my situation! Still we we are able to communicate with each
others and could give new information to both sides. And Carole, many thanks
for those photos about your son and his family you made for me before we met!
It told me, that you really did waited our meeting. I´ve really understood it
afterwoods!
The dining-room table was once again full of all cind of dishes to eat and Jody, husband of Vikki, was grilling more! Oh boy!!!
Again!
Leslie, Alex, son of Joanne, Taimi, Thomas, me, Carole, Joanne, David and Vikki
We also were able to see the farm and its inhabitants. Of course
Tarzan was one of the stars, but this one was possible most interested of
us. He /she did wanted all the attemption! He/she really wanted scrahches all
the time and from all of us! And how cindly he/she was!
On thursday morning Joanne, Joel,
Taimi and me went to the home of Leslie to Floodwood. He is living quite near
to Vikkis´. After a coffee with him we went to the cemetary of Floodwood to
find the graves. My feelings were going up and down again, I really cannot
describe it. And we found them, the graves of my oncles and also that of graunt
Albertinas´ and her husband Henry Peippos´. One of my dreams had filled…I
was so near to my oncles and my graunt. It really happened, what I was dreaming
for years. … For some reason it was very difficult to leave the cemetery, I
felt that there were more strong roots in there than here in Finland. I really
do not know.
A wiew of the cemetary of Hope Lutheran, Floodwood, Mi
To the cemetery of Floodwood are also buried grmother and –father of
Joanne, Johanna and John Kanniainen. I do hope that our visit to the graveyard
meant also to her much.
I thouhgt that it was one of the most important happenigns about our
trip, but the future gave me much more.
My exitement of the trip was going up. You see, for years I was
dreaming, that some day I would be able to visit those places, where my aunts
Aina and Kustaava and oncles Alex and John (Eetu, as we called him) were living
in the 1920 and further on. I knew, that they were living in Floodwood and
Grand Rapids in Mi. I did know that aunts had sibligns. I knew, that Betty,
daughter of aunt Kustaava was still living in Grand Rapids. I had been in
contact to her. I knew, that aunt Aino had two sons, but did they had any
children, I didn´t know at all and had lost my hope to find them. For
years my wish had been, that perhaps in some day I could find those places were
they wer living in. I don´t know, if you ever can understand my feelings at
that time, when this part of the trip was so neare to happen… I can tell you,
my heart really was pumping!
Unfortunately I did not got any new information of oncle John, but Joanne knew
and showed to me to Taimi the place where oncle Alex lived his last years in
Floodwood. I really do hope that some day I do have a possibility to search the
lives of oncles Alex and John in US. And I really do hope, that all of you
siblings of Finnish roots will wright down all the things of your pass
what is possible. And also save all the old photos you have. To understand
yourself is very important to know, what your pass is!
Again it was time to the next step.
To Grand Rapids and the closiest relative, a cousin... My feelings were again
in a roller coaster...
The story still IS continuing...