What happens when you want to re-create your 1975 self with your younger sister? She refuses and you have to go to Plan B.
Fortunately I have a willing niece (my sister's daughter Julia) who saved the day and joined me in a whole lot of fun at the Islendingadagurinn (Icelandic Festival) parade on August 4, 2014. And my other niece, (my brother's daughter Olivia), came along and added some spice to our entry in the parade.
In 1975 the festival was celebrating 100 years since the Icelanders came to Canada and settled in the Interlake region of Manitoba. I was 12 and Peggy was 10. We were in Gimli for the holidays and our aunt Dilla had been planning for us to be in the parade dressed as little Icelandic girls pulling the wagon from the farm (which was ancient then) with a sign that said,
We are so glad you came to Canada 100 years ago
The heritage of both worlds has helped as we grow.
I know - TOO CUTE! Little did I remember what kind of a planner my aunt is and how a simple phrase said last year on a visit during the festival would set in motion a full-year planning cycle for this year's festival. Last year we found out that the festival was celebrating 125 years (for the festival, not the Icelanders settling in Canada) and I said to Peggy, with Dilla present, we should go in the parade again. Peggy refused and Dilla started planning. By the time I left Gimli last summer she already had a black skirt I could wear for part of the costume.
One side view of the wagon and the 1975 picture of me and Peggy.
And that was just the beginning...
Phone calls, letters started happening. Had I booked enough places for all of our families to stay (4 siblings plus spouses, plus children, we are a crowd!)? She would go down and check a few out and let me know. She thought she could get one of the Icelandic costumes from Shelley (cousin) for Julia but I would have to put something together for myself (YIKES - sewing is not my thing). Had I thought of what we would decorate with? Would we get the wagon from the farm? Did it even exist anymore? This from an 85 turning 86 (now) aunt. She was relentless and I was beginning to panic.
By late February she had sent me a package with mock-ups of the panels for the vest and instructions on how to add silver threading for the decorative part of the costume. I knew I was in serious trouble. I needed HELP.
On top of that, she included the original letter she wrote to us in 1975 with her plans then. How she was sewing our costumes, had we been measured yet, what should we have on the wagon, etc. etc. 1975 and 2014 were eerily similar. I needed a strategy.
I contacted the Edmonton chapter of the Icelandic National League, of which I am a member. Joedy Englesby, President of the Club, SAVED the day. When I asked if they had any costumes I could "borrow", she responded with a resounding "YES they had plenty. Just pop by when in Edmonton to check them out and I would be on my way." Several months later I ended up in Edmonton, met Joedy at the club and found the perfect fit with all the trimmings (hat, belt, apron, shirt). I breathed a HUGE sigh of relief. I knew sewing the costume or having it made was a feat I was not capable of completing.
Next on the agenda were the wagon decorations. I decided getting posters made with pictures of 1975 and the present with the saying would be the easiest until I went looking for that letter Dilla sent with the original wording. Do you think I could find that letter? And do you think I could remember the whole saying? The first sentence looped in my brain and nothing else. The dreaded email to Dilla had to happen. I had to ask her if she remembered the whole saying. If you have any Icelandic aunts you will know what kind of a response you are going to get. The automatic rebuke came back - "I sent you the letter with that included, where is it?" she asked. The search was on and at the 11th hour I found the letter.
Now on to Gimli. My idea of decorating and my husband's are 2 different things. I was sure the posters were enough, but the now almost 100 year old wagon (probably built by my great Uncle Mundi) needed serious reinforcements to carry the structure to attach the posters. And he wanted to decorate it as well with balloons, streamers, Icelandic flags. I left him at Dilla's place in the woodworking shop doing that task 2 days before the parade while I gathered the candy to hand out and searched for blue, white, red streamers. If you know me, this would be my least favourite part. I wouldn't decorate for my own wedding, why would anyone think I would be up for this! Martha Stewart NOT!
Look at the wheels on this wagon - amazing how it has stood the test of time. Uncle Mundi made things to last!
Countless hours of manual labour and more than $200 in expenses later there we were walking the route of the parade. The crowds were lined up along the streets. We left the starting point pulling a wagon that I was sure was going to collapse along the way.
But like the Icelanders before us it stood the test of time - we do come from sturdy stock. We made it with the wagon intact and we managed to relax, have fun and put smiles on the faces of the young and old alike.
Thanks to my aunt, 39 years ago we won 1st prize in our category for the parade (I think they made one up just for us) and we were $25 richer - an enormous amount for us and to this day Peggy and I can still remember how it felt to be richer beyond our wildest dreams in the summer of '75. I know from current experience that my aunt was definitely poorer in cash but she taught us how putting effort and time into anything yields rewards beyond wealth.
And in 2014, thanks to Dilla, I realized how lucky I am to have people in my life who want to share in the load of getting things done so I can participate and make memories of a lifetime. So thank you Dilla, Pat, Shelley, Clifford and anyone else who helped make our entry possible.
Most of all THANK YOU to my awesome nieces, Julia and Olivia for joining me in making new memories and continuing the tradition of getting involved in our heritage. I love you all.
And Peggy joins us at the end. Edith, Peggy, Olivia, Julia.
