Lögberg-Heimskringla - 11.12.1992, Blaðsíða 24

24'» Lögberg-Heimskringla • Föstudagur 11. desember 1992
L-H Original F’iotion
From The Secret Diary of
Svanhildur Sigurdson, Age 12
by Lesley Peterson
Monday, November 6,1950
Dear Diary,
We learned about Bonnie Prince
Charlie in school today. I have
decided to be a Jacobite. Too bad we
don’t live in the olden days. I asked
Miss Miller if there was anybody nowa-
days who could be the rightful heir to a
throne. She said not in the Interlake.
Miss Miller’s first name is Anne.
With an “e.” Svanhildur is like Anne
only it has a “-hildur” at the end instead
of an “e.” That’s what comes of being
bom in Siglunes instead of in Winnipeg.
Baldy Jonasson dipped my braids in
the inkwell again today. I called him a
pig so he snorted. Then I called him a
greedy bloodsucking Conservative fish-
buyer. He kept snorting. Miss Miller
made us both apologize. When Baldy
said sorry he had his fíngers crossed.
Mom says I can order a new dress for
Christmas. I wanted the pink one on
page 18 but Elsie Eggertson says she’s
ordering that one. So I went to Iook for
the Eaton’s catalogue just before supper
and Einar had it. He said he was look-
ing at flannel shirts. David said he was
looking at the ladies’ underwear. Mom
said she was almost finished knitting
some new socks and that Einar could
have them if he wanted. Dad sent them
both outside to chop wood. Einar took
the Eaton’s Catalogue with him.
If Auntie Frieda doesn’t invite me to
Winnipeg for Easter I think I will die.
P.S. Canned mutton for supper.
Tuesday, November 7,1950
Dear Diary,
Uncle Jonas is here. It’s 8:00 so
they’re all sitting in the kitchen
rolling cigarettes and sucking coffee. I
don’t know how Miss Miller can stand
it. She’s read Anne of Green Gables.
She knows better. Gilbert Blythe never
pours his coffee into the saucer before
he drinks it. Jack London never sticks
sugar cubes between his teeth. I’ve read
every book in the Siglunes School
library. AIl ten of them. Even Ivanhoe.
And Ivanhoe never sucks sugar cubes.
So that just shows you, doesn’t it?
Mom’s after me again to practise
reading my Icelandic. We got this big
box of books from the Ericsons and
we’re supposed to pass them on to the
Haldursons when we’re done. She and
Dad and Amma have read them all
already. I keep telling them I have
homework.
I hate Baldy Jonasson. Don’t ask me
why. I’m so mad I can’t tellyou.
P.S. Mutton again. Mom says maybe
fruit preserves tomorrow. Big-nose Alex
says he used to eat hay when he was a
boy. He’s only the hircd man and I
don’t think I believe him.
Wednesday, November 8,1950
Dcar Diary,
Icelandic books never get it right. Take
Littla Guia Heinen, for instance. The
Little Yellow Hen. I actually used to like
that book—back when I was a child.
Before I found out that it’s really sup-
posed to be “the little red hen.” You
have to leam everything the hard way
around here.
Uncle Jonas is mad at Cousin Sigga.
He’s going to Iceland to celebrate his
70th birthday and Cousin Sigga says
she’s going with him. Mom says he’s an
old goat and what’s a man his age plan-
ning to do that his daughter couldn’t
know about. Dad says someone should
remind him that it’s Reykjavík he’s
going to and not Copenhagen. I asked
Miss Miller what did Dad mean about
Copenhagen and she just said I’d do
Denmark next year in grade 8. Do they
want me to get an education or not.
Mrs. Bjomson says I have to have
“Country Gardens” hands together by
tomorrow. I hate counting eighth notes.
Auntie Frieda says if I pass my exam
she’ll take me to sneak preview night at
the Uptown Theatre when I go to
Winnipeg. I know I will never make it.
If I don’t fail my exam first I will proba-
bly die of an overdose of boiled mutton.
Amma is carding wool tonight. She
always says Icelandic poetry out of her
head while she does that. Poems and
stories. I guess she likes them.
Maybe I did write “Hildy Sigurdson
loves Bonny Prince Charlie” inside my
history notebook a few times but Baldy
Jonasson didn’t have to show it to every
boy in Siglunes. Besides, Elsie told me
to do it.
Cont’d. on page 25
The staff of
Lögberg-Heimskringla
and Keystone Graphics, and
the Board of Directors of L-H,
wish all subscribers a
Merry Christmas
and much luck in the new year.
Thank you all
for your continuing support.
NEFND UM SAMSKIPTI ISLANDS OG VESTUR-ISLENDINGA
COMMITEE FOR PR0M0TI0N OF RELATIONS BETWEEN ICELAND AND PERSONS OF ICELANDIC DECENT IN NORTH AMERICA
Dear friends There are dear moments to remember and
: cherish: from the Toronto Community, from
Coming once again to Christmas and a Gimli Park and Museum, from a Lake Winnipeg
New Year brings lovely memories of the cbast brunch at the festival, the cordial folks, the
past - and the beginning of a New Year elderly at Betel and Betelsstaðurto name a few-
makes us think what may lie ahead. To many of perhaps last but not least to witness how
you, Christmas - JÓLIN - will bring to your respected the Canadian lcelander is today - and
minds those ever present memories about the ever lasting love for the homeland. Again,
Christmas - JÓLIN HEIMA, with parents, grand warmest Greetings to all of you. Innilegar
parents and families - jólin hjá afa og ömmu. hátíðakveðjur.
Greetings to all of you with all the best wtshes Earlier this century lceland's beloved poet,
for the Season and New Year - Gleðileg jól - Davíð Stefánsson from Fagraskógi, wrote a
farsælt ár! poerrv, which is always quoted at Christmas,
■rememberíng his mother and old home at
1992 has been a pleasant and memorable year Christmas. The last verse of this poem of
in many respects. New friendshíps have been Christmas is:
achieved while old ties have been renewed. And - „
new plans made for the future - plans to work
together in the various fields awaiting us and wtll Óg nú víl ég syngja og sál mína yngja
tie us together. In others wé seek new ways, með söngvum um lágnættið hljótt
solutions - all. forthe purpose of paying a og hvísia í norður ástarorðum,
meðan allt er kyrrt og rótt,
mig dreyma um Ijósin heima,
sem loga hjá mömmu í nótt.
respect to and cultivating our common heritage.
Concrete plans will gradually develop where we
seek your cooperation and partnership.
Oddný joins me in cordial Greetings
Jól '92
Heimir Hannesson
Chairman