Lögberg-Heimskringla - 15.02.2019, Qupperneq 5

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Lögberg-Heimskringla • 15. febrúar 2019 • 5
I would never have predicted how a
promise I made to my siblings after both
my parents died in 2005 could take on
such a life-enriching path. I pledged then that
I would “do something” with all my parents’
photographs when I retired. So in 2008,
when I did retire, I was confronted by the
boxes of photographs in albums; individual
black and white and coloured photographs
in cardboard mountings or in frames; plus
thirty carousels of my father’s slides.
I began by culling and sorting the
photographs, uncertain of their destiny.
Then one day I came across an article in
a magazine telling of a computer software
program (BookSmart by Blurb) that could
be downloaded onto one’s computer to
create books. The thought appealed to me.
In 2009, I downloaded the program and
experimented using photographs from a
trip my husband, Barry Garbutt, and I took
to New Mexico. We bought a scanner and
Barry began scanning hundreds of my
parent’s photographs and slides. That was
the beginning.
My promise soon became my passion.
I loved creating books and found myself
restless when I didn’t have one or more
projects on the go. I have completed over
eighty books for Barry and me, for family
members, for friends, and for strangers who
have become friends. I’ve created books
about our travels, friendships, family stories,
personal memoirs, as well as organizational
memoirs, recipe collections, and books for
or about children. In some cases the text is
entirely that of another writer but more often
either I write the text myself or I edit and
organize what is given to me. In all cases I
combine the text and the photographs into a
cohesive, colourful book.
Books that I’ve completed in the last year
include one of a baby’s first year, a European
garden tour Barry and I took in May, as
well two books on trips to Iceland. One
was a trip we took last June and the other
was of a trip to Iceland by friends. I also
completed a family story for a couple about
their ancestors in Iceland and Poland and
their immigration to Canada. I’m currently
collaborating with them on a second volume,
which chronicles their lives and those of
their children and grandchildren. I’m in the
process of creating a book of photographs for
my nieces and nephew of their growing-up
years. A big project for 2019 will be to create
a book Barry is currently researching and
writing. It’s about his Icelandic ancestors and
their immigration to Canada. His text will be
complemented by the wealth of old family
photographs we’ve accrued from his cousins
at photo-sharing afternoons we’ve hosted.
This passion for making books has
enriched my life in many ways. Learning
a new craft and new software programs
have stimulated my thinking, my problem
solving skills, and my creativity. I've met
people and made new friends. I've delved
into my family’s past, explored Barry’s
family history, and learned the stories of
others. And when all is done, there is a
tangible legacy ... a book to be revisited for
years to come.
WHEN A PROMISE BECOMES A PASSION
Eleanor Suderman
Winnipeg, MB
The bear was originally a
changeling, or a human
being compelled by a
curse to assume that form. The
she bear brings forth her young
in full human shape, and they
continue thus until she throws
her paw over them, when they
at once assume the bear’s
shape, which they wear forever.
In Grímsey, an island north of
Iceland, much exposed to visits
from bears upon the Greenland
ice floes, the knowledge of
bears is much developed.
There, it once happened that a
man caught a bear’s cub before
the mother had thrown her paw
over it. This cub was no other
than a little girl. The man took
her home with him and fostered
her, and she grew into a very
handsome and hopeful damsel;
but at this period she was
troubled with an everlasting
wish to plunge into water, and
especially into the sea. One day
she managed to get out to the ice
that surrounded the shore. No
sooner was she there, than her
mother came up, and throwing
her paw over her, changed her
into a bear. (See: “The Grímsey
man and the bear” on page 14.)
Fylgjur (followers) are
very common in Iceland.
These fylgjur have a pedigree
of most enviable antiquity.
In very ancient times they
appear as spirits who only
allow themselves to be seen
on rare occasions, and then,
most generally, in the form of
women. Far from being evilly
disposed, they are to the man
they follow as guardian spirits,
and either regulate or personify
his luck or success in all
things. In later times, the name
fylgjur took a more sinister
signification.
The origin of these fylgjur
is the afterbirth of a child. In
former times, as well as modern,
much superstitional belief
surrounded this “follower.”
When this afterbirth was
duly guarded, the child had a
follower until death, generally
in the form of that animal
whose disposition its own
most resembled. Thus, these
followers appeared sometimes
in the shape of a bear, an eagle,
a wolf, an ox, a pig, a lion, or
a leopard. The followers of
deceitful men and fraudulent
sorcerers took the shape of a
fox or a jackal; those of fair
women, the shape of a swan.
Folk with delicate senses will
very often smell the follower, if
it be near.
Bears very often show
quite human skill, and the most
wonderful good nature. It is as
well to avoid teasing or baiting
hears, for they are sure to take
vengeance. Stories are current
illustrating this fact.
When a bear is killed, one
must take good care not to
behave in any way meanly
towards the dying animal.
When he has received his death-
blow, he lies down quietly and
licks his gaping wounds; and
if, after this, the hunter takes
the dastardly advantage of
giving him a further blow, the
man’s life is from that moment
doomed. If a bear, after
receiving his death-wound, roar
once or more than once, it is to
call upon his relatives to take
vengeance upon his slayer; and
the next year there will come as
many bears to the place as roars
were uttered. It is an excellent
thing to spread the skin of a
bear under a child as it is born,
for all infants received on that
fur obtain thus the “bear’s
warmth,” or, in other words,
become so warm-blooded that
they never feel cold.
This account of Icelandic
bear lore is abridged
and rearranged from the
“Introductory Essay” of
Powell and Magnússon’s book
Icelandic Legends, Second
Series (London, 1866).
Icelandic bear lore
George E.J. Powell and
Eiríkur Magnússon (1866)
Barry Garbutt and Eleanor Suderman in Iceland
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Post/ZIP Code Tel:

CONTACT THE INL OF NA OFFICE
103-94 First Avenue, Gimli, MB R0C 1B1 • 204-642-5897 • inl@mymts.net
(or the INL Chapter/Society nearest to you)
OR, within North America, clip and mail this order form. Send to:
Lögberg-Heimskringla, 835 Marion Street, Winnipeg, MB, R2J 0K6
Yes, I’d like to order _______ (qty) of the 2019 Our Family Album 1919-2019 calendar from
L-H. Please send to:
I enclose $12.00 plus $3.00 CDN / $3.00 USD / $8.00 INT shipping for each.
Make cheques payable to: Lögberg-Heimskringla, Inc.
2019 INL of NA Calendar now available
ONLY
$12
PLUS SHIPPING
Our Family Album 1919-2019
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Gimli, MB R0C 1B0
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