April 1, 1916
Tampere, Finland
I am so grateful that Mamma knit me a cap, scarf and mittens for this new journey. And, in a soft rose pink!!! My favorite color. It is still cool, yet, not bitter Nordic cold on this first day of April. I lightly wrap my scarf a few more times around my neck and cover my lower face. So pink and cold against the occasional western wind.
The train should be arriving soon. I check my left side pocket in my coat, yes, my ticket is secure. So grateful that Mamma suggested I add a button to the pocket, no doubt there will be pick pockets along on my long passage to the west. I smiled. Pappa was so stoic, yet, so loving when I finished my required schooling and said I could either receive a gift to go to university, or, to travel, alone, to North America and start a new life.
Just as he and Mamma offered my older sister, Liina, four years ago. Sad, I feel both sadness and hope now. Liina made this same long journey I did, with her new husband Johann. They were so happy, so in love and even though traveling third class, excited to be on the largest ever ship, the Titanic! STOP. Cast that aside. That was four years ago, this is now.
I can feel the wooden platform beneath my feet shake a little from the rumble of the approaching train. As the train halted and the whistle stopped its loud roar of arrival, I saw a handsome young man, a porter jump down the steps. He offered me a shy smile and I felt a strange, but, warm feeling in my belly as his clear blue eyes met mine. I could feel my face on fire, oh darn that blush, it gives away all my secrets.
His tag read, Hugo. He saw me lower my gaze as if to hide my flushed face. “Good morning Miss, my name is Hugo. May a take your trunk and place it in the storage bin?” I said thank and he easily lifted the trunk filled with all my possessions and placed it in the space beneath the train. He offered his arm to assist me up the 3 steps and my heart started beating like a delicate hummingbird. I gasped, he smiled, ever so slightly as he escorted me to me seat. With a slight bow of his blonde-haired head he wished me a pleasant journey.
Oh dear, I am so embarrassed! Now my hands are sweaty and my heart is about to fly out of my chest. Well, what a way to start this long journey, I will surely fill a page or two in my diary tonight.
This train will take me from Tampere to Turku, then a horse-led carriage will be a bumpy ride to Vaasa so I can board a steamer to Sweden and then to Hull, England. Then, yet another train across England. I must check my log, to remember where I will get the ship to North America and finally reach New York, USA. As I reached to pull my log out, I remembered, the train ride will take me to Southampton where I gain passage on the White Star steamer. That map I studied at the library in Helsinki had left me dazzled, a little overwhelmed, yet curious about that vastness of the Atlantic Ocean.
And, New York City seems a bit daunting, however, Pappa and Mamma reminded me to stay with the crowd in the station and ask for assistance to board the correct train, yes another train, to a place called Youngstown Ohio. Then Liina will collect me and take me to her home in Ashtabula, Ohio. She said I will love it, it will remind me of home. A large lake, lots of spruce and birch trees. And, of course snow. Hmm, she assures me that instead of nine months of snow, ice and only six hours of daylight, it will be quite different. I love the photos she sends me, snow on birch trees, then blossoms on trees, followed by people walking outside with parasols to shade their faces from the sun and no coats needed!
As I reached into my small basket that Mamma packed with freshly-baked nissua, black bread and cheese, to take a small wedge of cheese, Hugo stops by my seat and asks if I would care for some hot coffee. Darn, I feel my face blush, I dare I will turn a permanent shade of red. With a slight quiver in my voice I say, that that would be lovely and offer him of nissua. His smile fills his face and says that coffee cake is his favorite treat. He asks my name and I stutter, Mandy. He replies it is his favorite name as my blush glows and my heart beats loudly.
As he goes to fetch my coffee, I too smile, I am going to miss him when I depart this too short part of a much longer journey. Will we connect again, or are we strangers who for a short time, exchange a few shy smiles. I must remember, no attachment, nothing lasts forever. But, are coincidences real? We will see, day one, enjoy the present. I plan to fill diary after diary.
Postscript this is my fictionalized version of my maternal grandparents meeting. Mamma actually arrived in 1916 via Canada where an uncle sponsored her, she made her way, alone to Baltimore City, Maryland. Pappa arrived to Ellis Island in 1917 and made his way to Baltimore where a Finnish community was growing.
This feels like a book is coming
Awww! This is so sweet!