Well, you live and learn. Most days you do learn something even if you do forget it immediately thereafter. Yesterday, I learned something that has changed me quite profoundly.
For as long as I can remember, I had believed the roots on my father’s side of the family hailed from Norway. That still partly true since his father and my grandfather came from Gjovik in Norway. But he was actually born in Steneby, Alvsborgs in Sweden. I have a vague recollection of the Swedish connection but given a lifetime of not addressing my heritage, I probably somehow buried this information in the darker recesses of my brain in a sub-conscious kind of way.
I buried all this stuff about my heritage for a few reasons which I may go into at a later date. But now I do and tomorrow I am going to seek out a little of my heritage.
The angels at the chapel of the former National Nautical School were sculpted by my great grandfather on my grandmother’s side of the family and my grandfather came from Norway (see above) along with fellow Norwegians when the Mustad company arrived here from his home town in Gjovik. The angels are still there and there are references to Mustad in what’s left of the old town.
My loyal reader can rest assured that I shall report back tomorrow.
