The Icelandic Canadian - 01.12.2001, Síða 35

Vol. 56 #3
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
161
might be compensated, as we were
approaching Gimli. In my eyes, as a child,
Gimli was Canada. I cannot remember
having heard of other settlements. Our
expectations were high. After 750 km of
driving that day, we came to Libau, not far
from Gimli, where Nina and Dennis wait-
ed for us. We had met them in Iceland on
several occasions. It was Dennis who told
us about his ancestors and their settlement.
Through Dennis’s narration, the land
arose, and took life; every spot had its his-
tory, destiny, happiness, and joy. We saw
his great-grandfathers Arni and Guttormur
coming to the Gimli area, we saw how land
was cleared of bushes and trees, how herds
were developed, hay harvested, houses and
barns built, paths carved, and boats built.
We also heard how his great-grandmothers
Albina and Asdis Palina adapted to unfa-
miliar circumstances. We heard about the
grandfathers Porsteinn and Einar and
grandmothers Gudrun Helga and
Holmfridur, father Porstein Andres, and
mother Asdis Sigrun, about brothers and
sisters working and playing. We visited
some of Dennis’ relatives, among them
brother Gary and uncle Szemund
Guttormsson. Uncle Sam is a man who
lives alone, owns a great deal of land, and is
interested primarily in taking care of his
cows. He reminded me strongly of the
many loners still living in isolated valleys in
Iceland. He told me that his father, Einar,
used to call him Sxmundur frodi or
Szemundur sterki and that he liked to be
compared to Icelandic heroes. Szemundur
has not travelled, but when I asked him if
he would be coming to Iceland, he said: “If
it happens that I get married I will go; then
I have a companion.”
After exploring this endlessly flat land,
it seemed no longer flat. It came alive. The
first Icelandic settlers’ destiny and faith did
not leave my mind during these days. It
was easy to visualize their first steps on
Canadian ground at Willow Point
(VfSinesi), one autumn day in 1875, but it
A kissing bridge in Heartland, New Brunswick.