SIDEBAR #54 - Travis Alexander forum

[Bernina]

Waiting to hear how Zuri is........:thinking:



*jingle jingle jingle*

 

[Bernina]

Dahmn.........I go to sleep thinking nothing new for Monday, and this morning's local news media is all into this tropical depression(Sixteen E), flash floods, 1-2 1/2 inches of rain, free sand bags, and buy a boat!

Early rainfall estimates show Metro Phoenix receiving anywhere from an inch to more than two and a half inches of rain, with locally heavier totals of 3 inches or more during a 48-hour period ending Tuesday afternoon. The higher elevations of northern Arizona may see comparable totals.

Flash floods are possible, along with flooding for those who may live in low-lying areas or flood-prone neighborhoods. Roads and washes may also experience flooding. Drivers need to prepare for treacherous conditions Monday through Wednesday.
Embedded thunderstorms may also produce damaging winds and hail during this timeframe.

http://www.kpho.com/story/30071334/...flash-flood-watch-takes-effect?autostart=true

Should be an interesting 2 days. Hmmmmmm...........might just have "lake front" property again. :floorlaugh:

 

[atthelake]

Waiting to hear how Zuri is........:thinking:



*jingle jingle jingle*

I heard from her this morning.

She is fed up and wants to check herself out today after 8 days in the hospital. She is not a happy camper. She still has very much difficulty breathing.

No diagnosis yet and she thinks that she can take care of herself at home, and continue her treatments at home while they work on test results and, if needed, get more test result as an outpatient . She believes that it is a good hospital overall and has received good nursing care although she is not the best patient she says .

I have been forwarding every post that mentioned her daily ( those thanked by me were sent to her and she has seen ).

She said that yes or no is having bandwidth limitation due to the plan she has and sharing her data limits with others ... and that is why she is not posting.

raying: for (( Zuri ))

Using talk to text with lots of grammar errors !

 

[Bernina]

I heard from her this morning.

She is fed up and wants to check herself out today after 8 days in the hospital. She is not a happy camper. She still has very much difficulty breathing.

No diagnosis yet and she thinks that she can take care of herself at home, and continue her treatments at home while they work on test results and, if needed, get more test result as an outpatient . She believes that it is a good hospital overall and has received good nursing care although she is not the best patient she says .

I have been forwarding every post that mentioned her daily ( those thanked by me were sent to her and she has seen ).

She said that yes or no is having bandwidth limitation due to the plan she has and sharing her data limits with others ... and that is why she is not posting.

raying: for (( Zuri ))

Using talk to text with lots of grammar errors !

Thanks, Atthelake!
8 days?!?!?! Wow, has it been that long? Good grief!

 

[atthelake]

She said "eight days of this" so I assumed it was hospital time but you may be correct and I am wrong being hospital... it could be the problem itself..



Using talk to text with lots of grammar errors !

 

[coffeejunkie]

I heard from her this morning.

She is fed up and wants to check herself out today after 8 days in the hospital. She is not a happy camper. She still has very much difficulty breathing.

No diagnosis yet and she thinks that she can take care of herself at home, and continue her treatments at home while they work on test results and, if needed, get more test result as an outpatient . She believes that it is a good hospital overall and has received good nursing care although she is not the best patient she says .

I have been forwarding every post that mentioned her daily ( those thanked by me were sent to her and she has seen ).

She said that yes or no is having bandwidth limitation due to the plan she has and sharing her data limits with others ... and that is why she is not posting.

raying: for (( Zuri ))

Using talk to text with lots of grammar errors !

Thanks for the update and still prayers for her and always JINGLES....

 

[Niner]

Hey everyone! I'm baaaccckkkk....

You all sure have been busy the last 2 1/2 days! I have TONS of responses, so will break them up in multiple posts! cguru:

That is exactly why I love this thread! We are always learning and sharing and caring. I get so much from this one thread that I always at least read it several times a day, even if I don't have time to post. A wealth of info, and full of friends.

The he video posted about "what Niner's family lived through" made a big impact. Niner, you should somehow include it with your history for whoever may read it in the coming generations.

I see it, coffeej

I've sent my Mother's story to a magazine called Reminisce, as they were asking for stories told in "interviews" about your family. So we shall see what happens! If they publish it, but I didn't even get an acknowledgement from them, plus I sent pictures from then, which I will post a few for you here!

snipped for space

sinus infection is the most annoying and uncomfortable feeling. Unfortunately, sinus infections are very common; it affects around 37 million Americans a year. Sinus infections are an inflammation of the lining in the sinus cavities. Sinusitis can be caused by colds, flu, bacteria or allergies. Fortunately, you don’t have to over-medicate yourself with conventional drugs, there are many natural and effective remedies for a sinus infection.

How to Clear Your Sinuses with Your Tongue and Your Thumb in 20 Seconds

Push your tongue against the top of your mouth and place a finger between your eyebrows and apply pressure. Hold it for about 20 seconds and your sinuses will begin to drain.

Oh, my massage lady does that for me, but never put my tongue up on my roof! I'll have to try that, I hate terrible sinus problems!! :gaah:

WARNING

DO NOT wash your hair in the shower!! It's so good to finally get a health warning that is useful!!! IT INVOLVES THE SHAMPOO WHEN IT RUNS
DOWN YOUR BODY WHEN YOU SHOWER WITH IT.
WARNING TO US ALL!!! Shampoo Warning! I don't know WHY I didn't figure this out sooner! I use shampoo in the shower! When I wash my hair, the shampoo runs down my whole body, and printed very clearly on the shampoo label is this warning, "FOR EXTRA BODY AND VOLUME." No wonder I have been gaining weight! Well! I got rid of that shampoo and I am going to start showering with Dawn Dishwashing Soap. It's label reads, "DISSOLVES FAT THAT IS OTHERWISE DIFFICULT TO REMOVE." Problem solved! If I don't answer the phone, I'll be in the shower! LOL

:laughing: Good one coffeejunkie!!!

While I have wifi for a minute, I wanted to send my deepest love and appreciation to all of my out for your kind thoughts, prayers, JINGLES, love, compassion and some I may have missed. I truly have the most special group of wonderful friends on the face of the planet, right here. I don't have much energy and can't breathe, so forgive my lack of long windedness.
Still haven't figured out WTH has caused this pulmonary disaster, but getting great care. I haven't slept in days. Light at end of tunnel so maybe discharge sometime next week. Love to you and yours and please know how much each of you mean to me. I am a better person because my world has you in it. Xoxo

Zuri!!! Picture for YOU! :loveyou: You sound like my Huz when he wanted to get out of the hospital! LOL!

 

[Niner]

Like I said, more posts to come.... and my smilies aren't working!! GAAAHHH!!! or can you all see that they are??

anyway....

Glenn Miller


[video=youtu;FAQgXPTekOU]http://youtu.be/FAQgXPTekOU[/video]

Oh WOW! That's my Huz's and my song!! It was playing on the Juke box when we met!! :loveyou:

Have you tried Ancestry? It's pretty good in going back to the 1600's in America. I have it easy because of the surnames in my family. It' really is like a tree. I know you can get some records from Europe but not sure how to go about it. Check census records. That is where many are found. I laughed when I was reading the records and see the questions the census take had to ask. Like how many lived in the house, how many children, were there any blind, deaf, dumb or idiotic. Many times the names are misspelled or have variations.

Do you know when your father came through Ellis Island? Many information is found in old family bibles. Find one leaf and it'll lead you to the next. My great grandfather had family in Rhode Island in the 1600's.

I too was going to suggest Ancestry. You can actually do it for free - they give you like 27 days free, and if you want to sign up than you pay. I did my Huz' family like that - got it done before the 27 days expired!! It seemed the lady in Latvia that did my father's and mother's roots had it pretty easy and this was from Czarist times!

Niner Your life story is absolutely fascinating! You should seriously write a book. I can't wait to hear about how your 25yr old mama celebrated her 25th birthday!
*PLUS* If I remember correctly, wasn't your mom and your husband both TV stars at one time? I would definitely buy your book! :smile:
Have a safe and happy trip :hug:

Hi Dmacky! :wave: hope you're feeling better! :hug:
As said before, I sent my Mother's story into that magazine! and I'll post after these numerous ones about her 25th birthday!
No, not TV "stars" LOL! My mother did "bit" parts in movies. Like in "Soap" with Sally Field, she played a homeless woman. I'll have to see if I can find one in my computer, otherwise I have one of her on my fridge, I'll get the Huz to take a picture of. Also, she was in some movie with Treat Williams, part of the jury! And my Huz was in "Nash Bridges" episode playing a cop - he walks right by the camera! Also, he was in the movie "Flubber" with Robin Williams; in a scene where Robin Williams lands in the Huz' lap!

This is where my father's family settled. My great grandfather rode for days to find mountains because my great grandmother was from Switzerland and missed the mountains of Bern.

Hey! My Huz' stepfather is/was from Bern!!

I went to my favorite arts & crafts festival today, and although it was blisteringly hot out, I spent $220 on 5 vendors including one of my all-time favorite jewelry ones and was able to replace some of my stolen jewelry- including some of the exact earrings!!! It makes me so happy to get some of my stuff back and pretty stuff that I'll enjoy wearing, even though it isn't the same, and those a_holes didn't get me totally!!!:skip::skip::happydance::loveyou::tyou:

:happydance: for you LinasK - BUT! Are you sure it isn't actually YOUR stuff!!??!!

I'm so sorry, Bernina if I brought back so many unpleasant memories. I never knew anything about Mormons in Europe, and thought it more a "modern" religion here in America. To everyone, I'm not asking anything about religion, but the region your family came from. I see there are several from the Netherlands and Scandinavian and the Baltic, and it would be something to find a connection.

Yeah! We all could be twenty-seven cousins - three times removed!! LOL!

I LOVE :autumn: One day I wish to drive thru New England at that time of year!

:welcome6: KayCherry!!!



...more... here's a picture for sharing with you all!

 

[ILikeToBendPages]

Ah, heck, ILTBP, no problem, no need for an apology! It is what it is! :floorlaugh: I don't look at as unpleasant, just kind of a peek into "Bizarro World", like just what were those folks "smokin'" back then??!?! Lol!

It's all good, wrote that kind of tongue in cheek.
Viking heritage, totally cool............the religious fanaticism? All you kids kind of saw a sneak peak with #281129's trial. It's one of those "been there, done that, got the bumper sticker, tattoo, and coffee mug" kind of things. The 2 generations preceding me were several bricks short of a load, if ya know what I mean.:drumroll:

You have a Mormon tattoo ? Of what may I ask?

The Viking connection is very cool. In Shawnee and up in Heavener by Tulsa are where some runestones have been found.

 

[Niner]

Hi ILikeToBendPages! I see you're the only one here! :wave: and :tyou: for posting all those country western songs! I saw Merle in a live concert! Love Waylon too!

snipped for space

Mostly Sweden, ....
Any history that the family recorded was basically about their conversion and life as Mormons, some wild ones about helping Mormons who escaped the Holocaust. Just not into it. My mom wasted thousands of hours putting all the stuff together because the Church said to do it, they do baptism for the dead, etc. (baptism and temple marriage by proxy). Have to make sure all your ancestors get baptized as Mormons or they're going to hell. :facepalm:
So there's that LDS connection with genealogy that turns me off big time. I am "deprogrammed", lol!

Hejdå Bernina! I was born in Sweden, but they didn't consider us (bro & sisters) Swedish citizens, as my parents were D.P.s. I am a girl without a country! but I am a Naturalized U.S. Citizen!! :happydance:

She e-mailed me to tell me she was still reading the file. Apparently it's very thick. Good sign?

Me too! Fingers crossed for good news!!

snipped for space

Most people are familiar with the traditional uses for lemons to soothe sore throats and add some citrus flavor to our foods. However the diversity of applications for lemons far exceeds general knowledge and once you read the following list, you’ll likely want to stock at least a few lemons in your kitchen 24-7.

18. Lighten Age Spots
Why buy expensive creams when you’ve got lemon juice? To lighten liver spots or freckles, try applying lemon juice directly to the area. Let it sit for 15 minutes and then rinse your skin clean. It’s a safe and effective skin-lightening agent.

19. Create Blonde Highlights
For salon-worthy highlights, add 1/4 cup lemon juice to 3/4 cup water and rinse your hair with the mixture. Then, sit in the sun until your hair dries. To maximize the effect, repeat once daily for up to a week.

36. Remove Warts
You’ve tried countless remedies to banish warts and nothing seems to work. Next time, apply a dab of lemon juice directly to the wart using a cotton swab. Repeat for several days until the acids in the lemon juice dissolve the wart completely.

#18 - will have to try this - I have too many of them! LOL! I'll let you know if it works!
#19 - I did this back in the 60s, 70s, and 80s...
#36 - my mom used grasshoppers to get rid of our warts...

Dahmn.........I go to sleep thinking nothing new for Monday, and this morning's local news media is all into this tropical depression(Sixteen E), flash floods, 1-2 1/2 inches of rain, free sand bags, and buy a boat!


http://www.kpho.com/story/30071334/...flash-flood-watch-takes-effect?autostart=true

Should be an interesting 2 days. Hmmmmmm...........might just have "lake front" property again. :floorlaugh:

Oh NO! My bro is driving to Phoenix and Sedona... right now!! Hope he's okay!! :scared:

Here's another picture from my "sharing" folder. And than I shall continue with my Mother's story!

 

[ILikeToBendPages]

Like I said, more posts to come.... and my smilies aren't working!! GAAAHHH!!! or can you all see that they are??

anyway....



Oh WOW! That's my Huz's and my song!! It was playing on the Juke box when we met!! :loveyou:




I too was going to suggest Ancestry. You can actually do it for free - they give you like 27 days free, and if you want to sign up than you pay. I did my Huz' family like that - got it done before the 27 days expired!! It seemed the lady in Latvia that did my father's and mother's roots had it pretty easy and this was from Czarist times!



Hi Dmacky! :wave: hope you're feeling better! :hug:
As said before, I sent my Mother's story into that magazine! and I'll post after these numerous ones about her 25th birthday!
No, not TV "stars" LOL! My mother did "bit" parts in movies. Like in "Soap" with Sally Field, she played a homeless woman. I'll have to see if I can find one in my computer, otherwise I have one of her on my fridge, I'll get the Huz to take a picture of. Also, she was in some movie with Treat Williams, part of the jury! And my Huz was in "Nash Bridges" episode playing a cop - he walks right by the camera! Also, he was in the movie "Flubber" with Robin Williams; in a scene where Robin Williams lands in the Huz' lap!




Hey! My Huz' stepfather is/was from Bern!!



:happydance: for you LinasK - BUT! Are you sure it isn't actually YOUR stuff!!??!!



Yeah! We all could be twenty-seven cousins - three times removed!! LOL!

I LOVE :autumn: One day I wish to drive thru New England at that time of year!

:welcome6: KayCherry!!!



...more... here's a picture for sharing with you all!

When did you FIL come to America? My great great grand parents came here in the late 1800's. Does his last name start with Brenz******? My MIL came to America in 1952 from Trestle, Italy , and her parents came later in 1959. Her mother was said to be a bastrard child of Franz Joseph. Don't you love skeletons in the closet?

 

[Niner]

I wanted to add to Bernina's post above - that I had a LOT of fun finding out about all my ancestors! As we only had our immediate family here in the U.S. and I didn't know until much later (20 years old maybe) about my parents escape and having an older sister who died.

anyway - here's rest of my Mamma's story. By the way, I wrote down this interview for my brothers and sisters, plus the whole family tree I did for all of them one Christmas.

She remembers her 25th birthday, September 22, 1945:
She was working in Gislov in a rubber factory. Gislov is west of Angelholm, on the very tip of that jutting land on the eastern/southern coast of Sweden. Tete had just written to some young guys (about 20 came) about the good work and good pay. Lived in a one room barracks, had a large closet, inside was a table with an electric stove to make dinner on. And they had two beds. When her birthday came - all the young guys came over with 25 roses! Tete got a milk can and filled it with beer they had brewed up – the alcohol was very weak in Sweden or what they could buy - and it brewed up really good! And they toasted her birthday. Lasmanis, also a Vet Med student (the gentleman who lived in Davis) was there - all got drunk and just slept everywhere! Tomberg brothers were there, she recalls…

The job got a bit too much for his back and so Tete took a job in Stockholm in the Vet school working with rats, but the pay was very good there too (I mention this as he was saving money to go to Vet school). Stayed with a German lady in her big house. They had one room in this very large house. This is where they met the Petrovskis family. The three Estonians and Sponbergs arrived. All signed up for Veterinarian school. The three Latvians and three Estonians only went two times a week to school, and Tete also had a job washing dishes in a restaurant and brought home food for Mamma. Silis stayed with them for a while. A Professor at the school got interested in the six who signed up for school, called them in and wanted to know ‘why’ they only came in two times a week? They have to work and can’t make it to school every day, so the Professor suggested artificial insemination. Sweden was the first country to start artificial insemination. Took care that all got money to live and attend three months of classes. When they had all finished, each was sent to certain areas around Sweden.

When the Swedes finally let them travel around the country – but only after going through an interview.

Eventually they did receive their travel papers and did go visit Norway. They brought back a picture, carved out of wood of the mountains and a river in Norway. I still have that picture hanging in my living room! Also my “cover photo” on my Face book is a picture taken in Norway of Mamma and Tete.

In 1946:
Tete was sent to Laholm – they went by train - J was born that year, June of 1946 in Stockholm - went with Tete and Mamma – where he was working with a Swedish veterinarian learning this new technique called artificial insemination. Making very good money. Every cow over 500, he got extra money. When Tete left, they needed two veterinarians to take care of all the cows that Tete had done all by himself. Laholm is north of Angelholm on the west coast of Sweden, a bit south-east of Halmstad, where L (me ) was born in August of 1947, and then M and M in February of 1949. Tete was saving money for Veterinarian school. Tete did double inseminations than all the others in his region. Tete saved his money to finish Vet school, but in 1951 while we were living in Varberg, Stalin wants his citizens back from Sweden – and since my father was actually born in Marschansk Tombov, Russia but having Latvian citizenship decides the money he was saving for Veterninarian school goes to pay for 4 tickets - for six people (children are ½ price!) - to the U.S. of A. We board the S.S. Gripsholm on March 3, 1952 and sail to the land of freedom and opportunity, arriving in the U.S. of A. on March 6, 1952 going through Ellis Island, sailing past the Statue of Liberty.

Mamma’s Uncle R puts us up in a house in Lansing, Michigan. We were placed in an all black neighborhood, next to a Baptist church. He found Tete work in an auto factory, while waiting for Rekovskis (JR’s godmother’s husband) to arrive. Most veterinarians worked in North Dakota. Tete had bought a car and drove up to North Dakota to take a look around. Tete didn’t let his work know where he was and where he had gone and got into a bit of trouble when he returned; Rekovskis decided to stay in North Dakota (because of the good pay!) You had to ride a horse to get to the cows, but Tete didn’t like horses!

So he put an ad out in newspapers across country - looking for a job for artificial insemination - he received very many offers; a few from Texas, but the best pay was in California. So in August of 1952 we drove across America to Petaluma, California. We lived on a chicken farm (where else, as Petaluma was known/is known as the “Egg Capital of the World”!), owned by the Henzels, a Latvian couple. We actually lived on two different chicken farms, one is on Mountain View Drive, and the second one was just down the road at Mountain View Drive. We had to leave the first one, as we children had been feeding the chickens gravel! And I guess the owners didn’t like that too much! In the second house, we got flooded out, so Mamma and Tete decided to look somewhere else, but they needed to stay in this area, as Tete took care of the dairy farms and cattle ranches in Sonoma and Marin counties and also eventually at San Quentin. They found a place and we moved to xxxx Murdock Drive in Santa Rosa. A house they bought after liquidating everything they had, with a $1000 down payment. In May of 1953 R Jr. was born in Santa Rosa.

Then in 1954 we moved to Novato - to various neighborhoods: xxxx Chase Street (the one across the railroad tracks from downtown Novato, then to xxxx Novato Blvd (by the creek that kept flooding our backyard), xxxx Virginia Avenue, the house down the street from the Catholic school, xxxx Hotchkin Drive by Hill School, and then to xxxx Leese Lane, the house on the hill. {I found out about 20 or so years later that our parents had bought every house we had lived in and that is the money Tete used to afford at least 5 years of not working to go to school.}

Then 6 years later in 1960, Tete has decided he still wants to be a veterinarian with a degree and went to U.C. Berkeley to brush up on his English. Since the only English he had been learning was from the dairy people and farmers with a lot of swearing! And the next year, 1961 he goes to the University of California at Davis. Brother J moved to Davis with Tete and we all followed the next year. We lived at 10th Street. Mamma got a job at UC Davis counting fruit fly eggs under a microscope. She said this was very tedious work and really put a strain on her eyes, but it helped pay for extra things that we would need to sustain us for the next two to three years. Tete would graduate in 1964, as the “oldest“ graduate in University of California at Davis’ history.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, on the 25th of August 1991 Latvia declared itself the Independent Republic of Latvia, adopting the pre-Soviet occupation constitution of 1923. Latvia was again free, independent democratic country; the constitution placing the highest power of the land in hands of its people!

Mamma and Tete had bought an apartment building after the independence of Latvia in 1993 and had planned to live in one of the apartments after Tete retired from his work. Unfortunately, Tete passed away December 7, 2000 at age 83 from inoperable lung cancer. My brother J had moved into one of the apartments in 1995. Mamma decided to move to Riga in 2001 and sold her house in Northridge and moved some of her furniture and precious keepsake items in 2002.

Sadly, my mother passed away of a stroke on August 26, 2011, 27 days short of her 91st birthday. She had quite a ride here on this Earth, as did my father. I would/could never had asked for better loving and caring parents than these two great human beings!


Post Script:
I have now been able to discover most of my family tree, thanks to a very nice Latvian lady, Agnese that I met through the online website Latvians On Line. I have been able to trace my father’s name G, or how they spell it in Latvian, G, to coming to Latvia in the late 18th century from Poland. Original spelling is Gahrschke. That would be my great-great-great-great-great-grandfather, Andsche Gahrschke. From Gahrschke to Garschkij, to Garschke and then my grandfather, Karlis changed it to present day spelling of G. And from my father’s mother’s side, the last name of S is of Liv origin. And that comes from my great-great-great-grandfather Tonne S, also in the late 18th century from the border of Latvia and Estonia migrating to Valmiera. My mother’s sides are all of Latvian origin.

“It’s been said that wherever you find 4 or 5 Latvians, there you will also hear a Latvian song!”

and The End!

 

[Niner]

When did you FIL come to America? My great great grand parents came here in the late 1800's. Does his last name start with Brenz******? My MIL came to America in 1952 from Trestle, Italy , and her parents came later in 1959. Her mother was said to be a bastrard child of Franz Joseph. Don't you love skeletons in the closet?

No FIL came here, I believe, if I'm remembering correctly - like 1920s, early. He migrated to the San Jose area. His mother's father came over in 1910 from Switzerland. And his father's father is from Germany, but I couldn't even find his first name, only his wife's. I believe it was Susza who tried to find more for me on him, but alas, nothing!

Haven't found any skeltons in mine yet, or at least no one wrote it down! LOL!

edited to add: off to cruize around WS! See you all before I log off for the night! cguru: :seeya:

 

[Niner]

Oh, I was going to post some pictures from my brother's memorial, but not "personal" pictures of me or my family. But the Huz is still lighten, darken some and will post later! I don't want to bug him - he's VERY grumpy when he's sick...

 

[LinasK]

Hey everyone! I'm baaaccckkkk....

You all sure have been busy the last 2 1/2 days! I have TONS of responses, so will break them up in multiple posts! cguru:



I've sent my Mother's story to a magazine called Reminisce, as they were asking for stories told in "interviews" about your family. So we shall see what happens! If they publish it, but I didn't even get an acknowledgement from them, plus I sent pictures from then, which I will post a few for you here!

snipped for space


Oh, my massage lady does that for me, but never put my tongue up on my roof! I'll have to try that, I hate terrible sinus problems!! :gaah:



:laughing: Good one coffeejunkie!!!



Zuri!!! Picture for YOU! :loveyou: You sound like my Huz when he wanted to get out of the hospital! LOL!

Mine had horrible pain from kidney stones. Pre-op they gave him one dose of Torridol (?) and he was ready to walk out the door! Good to go!:hilarious:

 

[Bernina]

You have a Mormon tattoo ? Of what may I ask?

The Viking connection is very cool. In Shawnee and up in Heavener by Tulsa are where some runestones have been found.

LMAO!!!!!
No Mormon tattoo.......that's a huge no no, defiling the Temple of God(your body) like ear piercing, and a coffee mug? Caffeine, my dear, no Mormon drinks coffee, lol!. It's just a saying I picked up on the road WAY back..

Yes, I have tattoos, the first one actually represents the "break from all things bad". A side view butterfly, crescent moon, and star combo on the back of my shoulder, "my freedom/putting the past "behind" me" that I got when I was 16. It's pretty faded and the lines have "bled", not crisp like when I was a young viper snapper. Have a 8" prayer feather on my upper *outside* thigh I designed myself, with some text on it. That one actually helped a young tattoo artist get some hands on experience. He did a pretty good job and we were both happy with the results.
And I have the pierced ears (3 holes) and the pierced nostril<-----way before it was something you saw just about everywhere.
All of them mean something to me, important life events, situations, people, etc. My visible scars pretty much have the same value, people, places, etc.
And so do the wrinkles!!!!!!! :floorlaugh:

What's really kind of strange is that I never did weird/unusual stuff with my hair. Just wasn't into that kind of stuff. No mohawks, no neon pink or blue streaks, shaved sides etc. Didn't want attention.

I am the black sheep, certifiable heathen of my family. And it's totally cool with me!:happydance:Between myself and lil' bro, we're the only "normal" ones in the bunch...................seriously.

 

[Bernina]

Hur mår du, Niner? Lol!

 

[LinasK]

Hur mår du, Niner? Lol!

:gasp::laughing:For a second I thought that was Spanish, LOL! Last night DD started "forcing" me to brush up on my Spanish so I can keep up with what she is learning in school.

 

[Bernina]

I enjoy reading other peep's family histories. It makes the past come alive, not the watered down textbook versions from school.

Niner, I spoke/understood Swedish first, then English at 3 years old when my dad's mom got all "American" in his face, "your family sailed across the ocean to live in Zion", etc, etc. Had a refresher when I was 12 but it didn't stick, just retained enough to get in trouble!
The few times I went to Scandinavia, I REALLY loved it. Denmark, eh, Copenhagen's walking streets were cool, but it didn't have the draw Sweden did.
You think you're a gal without a country, what the "H" "E" double toothpicks is a Swede doing in Arizona?!?!?! My folks performed a really insane geographic move on that front (from Utah), and since I'm pretty much a spitting image of my fair skinned, red headed grandma, it just doesn't work when you spend most of the summer close to a pool or under the sun!:gaah:
I got "da skin cancer", my siblings didn't, but they're all the typical "Swedish Ski Model" types, blonde hair, golden skin. My dad got it too, he had blonde hair but his beard grew out red.

 

[Bernina]

For a second I thought that was Spanish, LOL! Last night DD started "forcing" me to brush up on my Spanish so I can keep up with what she is learning in school.

Bawahahahaha!!!
Isn't that "como estas"?
:floorlaugh: