JFK International Airport Today
Fifty years ago, on November 22, 1962, an airplane landed at Idlewild International Airport in New York City and I embarked, facing the future fearlessly and with a great deal of excitement; I was 22. The Cuban missile crisis was over, it had caused nervousness at the American Embassy in Stockholm where I was interviewed for my Permanent Resident visa, but I was not to be deterred. Returning home after two and a half years in London, I had felt boxed in and unable to get on with my future in Sweden. So I decided to come to America for a while, not for a better future, my mind was not much on the future in those days, but simply for some more adventures before getting married. Being young in the 1950s that's what you thought happened to everyone -- getting married. Living happily ever after and all that..... I had absolutely no plans to remain in America for 50 years, or as it's turning out, for the rest of my life.
1960s
But as we said later in the 1960s, "Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans," so here I am today, celebrating 50 years in the United States and Thanksgiving all at once.
Today, I'm thankful for those 50 years, for all that I have lived and learned. I am thankful for my husband, the love of my life. And I'm thankful for his large family, who have become my family as well. I'm happy I have my cousins in Sweden, who still keep in touch with me, and I am so very grateful for my good friends and you, my blogger friends. You know, when I arrived here, I only knew two people in America. Finally, I want to give thanks to all the wonderful and faithful animals that have come to live me and placed their trust in me. All of them for too short a while, still they taught me so much.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE
FROM ALL OF US AT DESERT CANYON LIVING
Source: Wikipedia photos.
what a wonderful anniversary to be thankful for. i am happy to 'know' you here, and to share life as we know it.
ReplyDeletehappy thanksgiving to you.
Hi Inger - well that was worth waiting for - 50 years .. who would ever have thought. Congratulations and on making that home here with your dearly beloved hubby and the wonderful critters who have graced your home over the years ..
ReplyDeleteHeart-warming post .. and so pleased you keep in touch with your cousins back in Sweden ...
Happy Thanksgiving and many more to come ... Hilary
I understand, Inger, I came to Canada in the 1970s, decided I liked it here, and ended up marrying a Canadian. Now I've lived more years here than I did in the States.
ReplyDeleteHope your Thanksgiving is great! I always enjoy your posts.
Your post was short and so, so sweet. It gave me lots to think about, remimding me of my parents and good friend's immigration story.
ReplyDeleteI'm thankful I found you, blogging friend!
I am thankful for you. Happy Thanksgiving!
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Happy Thanksgiving.
ReplyDeleteI celebrated 25 years in Canada yesterday:)
I am wishing many Thanksgiving Blessing on your canyon and all that reside there. so happy you found a forever home, just like your animals did. life does take us places we never knew we would go... when you landed in 1962 i had graduated from highschool that year and working and buying a car and clothes and lots of shoes. 50 years goes by so fast.
ReplyDeleteYou do have a excellent reason to be thankful Inger I would be too.Now you know lots of people and we are all friends! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving-Anniversary.
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanbksgivisary!@!
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving, Inger! I'm also thankful you came to live in America. Who knows whether we would have ever met (in blogger-land) had you stayed in Sweden! -Jeff
ReplyDeleteHappy Anniversary and Happy Thanksgiving Inger. So great to have met you here. Your stories are full of interest and excitement.
ReplyDeletePS -- Buck's treatment is over for now. The brown pigment in his eye will remain, but it doesn't seem to have slowed him down any.
I'm glad Samson is doing well with his "droppies." :)
Thank you for your comments, it is so great to have you for my blogger friends and to know you enjoy my posts.
ReplyDeleteAs usual, Inger, a very touching post! I'm so glad you decided to come to America (as Neil Diamond says).
ReplyDeleteHope you feel better and have a great holiday!
Oh HAPPY 50 I am so happy you are here and happy. Hug B
ReplyDeleteDear Inger, what a coincidence--50 years here celebrated on Thanksgiving. How fitting. And please know that all of us who read your blog are so grateful that you came here 50 years ago and stayed and that you've shared with us through your blog your love of animals and of Sweden and your appreciation of the California missions and your breath-taking photography and all that makes up your life. Thank you for your friendship. Peace from Dee and the cats--Ellie, Maggie, and Matthew to you and your husband and Soldier and Samson.
ReplyDelete