Learning Swedish from "Google Translate" This is my great grandfather, Nels Johnson, in his tailor shop in Ludington, Michigan. I'm not sure of the date, or of the exact location, because he had a few different shops in Ludington over the years. If you remember, he's the one who made the wool quilt that Foster …
One of my great uncles was named Kermit. Whenever I mention this fact to people outside the family, they always question me: "Kermit? Really?" Today, people immediately associate the name with Kermit the Frog. But in 1916, well before the Muppets were ever thought of, little Kermit Johnson had a feeling his name would become …
You might remember... That ever since I was little, I have helped Mom paint. The first thing she painted after I came to live with her was the "Talavera Kitchen". That was when I discovered my natural artistic talent. It was also when I discovered the step stool, which enabled me to get into the …
Okay, you've seen this photo before... It seems almost universal; we just don't think we will ever forget the people in our family photos. And most likely, we ourselves won't. But what about our descendants, when those of us who knew the subjects of the photos are no longer around? The man in the red …
"International what??" Panda was busy looking at Mom's laptop. I turned quickly when I heard him talking to himself as he scrolled attentively through various international maps and images. "International Panda Day!" he responded to my startled question, as he continued to scroll. "I think there should be an International Panda Day, don't you?""Is this …
"Dude, have you seen Mom's desk lately?" Foster's words woke me up from a sound sleep. We were in the front living room, where we had been helping Mom go through some family history information earlier in the day. "Not recently," I replied. "I can't see the top of the desk unless somebody puts me …
"Books!" said Tuppence. After producing the word "rather with the effect of a bad tempered explosion", Tuppence then explains to her husband that it's incredible how much space all the books take up, and that she really doesn't know what she's trying to do with them.That is the beginning of "Postern of Fate," one of …
Perhaps you have picked up on the fact that I was "raised by Swedes"...and, to be accurate, a few Danes too. You have to be raised by Swedes (or Danes or Norwegians) to really understand the meaning of the phrase. Or maybe you've read enough of Garrison Keillor's "A Prairie Home Companion" to get it. …