The Icelandic Canadian - 01.12.2001, Page 30

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THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
Vol. 56 #3
learned from my Amma amma is to never
let your age inhibit your life. Of course her
physical capabilities became limited as she
grew older, but she never let her age dull
her spirit. Up until the last few years of her
life she always seemed involved in, and up
for, any activity, whether knitting, attend-
ing a nursing home or festival event, or
being interviewed for yet another newspa-
per. She would go outside to look at the
lake whenever possible and tell stories or
sing for whoever would listen. I also do not
believe one week passed where my great-
aunt Anna did not come in to color the
gray out of her mother's hair. When asked
about her longevity, Amma Amma claimed
the secret to her long life was coffee. If I
were asked that question, I would say with
conviction that it was truly her hard work
and the love she gave and received to and
from her family. The characteristics I have
mentioned I strongly believe my Amma
amma successfully passed down to every
member of my family, of which there are
more than one-hundred of us still living.
The two men I admire the most, my father
and grandfather, or Afi, definitely possess
aspects of my great-grandmother. They
have both lived their lives believing in hard
work, devotion, the importance of
humour, and unconditional love.
My Afi, who could turn any situation
into a joke, worked his way up the corpo-
rate ladder to become President of the
Manitoba Hydro - Electric Power
Company, while raising four children who
adored him. My father has been a Unitarian
Universalist Minister for about twenty
years, is very well respected, and puts up
quite well with a crazy daughter and equal-
ly crazy wife, who think he is the most
wonderful man alive. With influences like
these in my life, I can only hope to turn out
half as successful as they did. Though I can
attribute much of my life lessons to imme-
diate family members, I can't forget those
who I am not as close to, but have still
affected my life greatly.
As I stated before, there are over one-
hundred members still making up the
Arnason clan. Most are cousins in some
form or another. The most special thing
about our family is that though many of us
only are in contact once a year at festival
time, the bond is there no matter what.
After a year, you are still greeted with a hug
and a friendly grin. Every family member,
even the new in-laws (or out-laws as we
like to call them), is welcomed with open
arms and a dozen questions about how
your year has been. I'd have to say, that
once you are a member of the Arnason
family, you are a member for life. Whether
separated by divorce or distance, you are
never forgotten. The need to never forgot
where you have come from is also con-
stantly present, as is the sense of humour
that I described in my Amma amma.
Just last summer a few cousins put
together a slide show of all the cousins of
my father's generation and their parents
when they were young. Cousins Susan and
Debbie, dressed as the two old ladies who
used to work at the Gimli movie theatre,
gave us tickets, served us popcorn, and
encouraged the entire family to sit back,
relax, and remember. At intermission the
youngest cousins of my generation per-
formed the Dixie Chicks song "Goodbye
Earl." All generations seemed to blend
together till we were just one mass of
happy Icelanders who wanted nothing
more but to simply be in that moment. The
night was wonderful and I think I can
speak for everyone when I say we felt com-
plete. Being an Arnason has meant so much
to me. It means that I must be hardwork-
ing, caring, and open to new possibilities. It
means that I must have a sense of humor in
all situations. It means that I can never for-
get where I have come from or any of those
who have helped me along the way. Most
of all it means that family is the most
important thing anyone can have and one
should never take that for granted. In my
mind Gimli, Manitoba, Canada will always
be the most magical place on earth, but I
must remember where the magic has really
come from. I must remember what makes
this tiny town truly feel like home.