Refugee
The other night, EPI told me a completely absorbing story about one of his cousins. His mother, EPI's aunt, was quite young when she had him, so the cousin - we'll call him J - spent a lot of time with other relatives, particularly his maternal grandparents.
J's mother eventually went abroad to study and met a man [Icelandic] while there ... they fell in love and when they came back to Iceland, they set up house and the new man adopted J formally. From that point on he made J's life hell. During J's late childhood and early adolescense he inflicted serious psychological abuse, systematically undermining J's self-esteem and confidence until he was an emotional wreck and displaying seriously harmful behavior towards himself.
At that point, one of EPI's other aunts intervened. Clearly a remarkable woman [in more ways than one], she saw what was happening and instead of turning a blind eye or denying what was going on within the family, she put her foot down and announced that J would now come and live with her. Which he did. Almost immediately, he turned himself around, started showing an interest in learning, found a new enthusiasm for life, and eventually went to live in the US, where his cousin - son of the aunt who adopted him - was living.
He hasn't moved back since. He's made a good life for himself in the States, is successful, and sometimes comes to Iceland for visits - but he has never wanted to return permanently. He's become an American citizen and has even changed his name so there's not a vestige left of his Icelandic identity, except to those who know him well.
EPI thinks this is kind of strange. I absolutely do not. I totally get it.
AND THE WEATHER IS ...
It kept threatening to rain this morning, with odd bouts of drizzle that stopped pretty much as soon as they started. In between, the weather was fantastic - sunny with just a slight breeze, and a hint of a chill in the air to remind us that we're well into September. I went for a run along the sea and it was beautiful - then I went for physio followed by a dip in the hot pot at the Laugardalslaug pool - and it was still beautiful. Right now it's 9°C [48F] and sunrise was at 6:38 am, sunset at 8:09 pm.
Incidentally - the best thing I heard today was about all the people worldwide who have pledged to make September 11 a day of good deeds. What a wonderful display of good triumphing over evil!
J's mother eventually went abroad to study and met a man [Icelandic] while there ... they fell in love and when they came back to Iceland, they set up house and the new man adopted J formally. From that point on he made J's life hell. During J's late childhood and early adolescense he inflicted serious psychological abuse, systematically undermining J's self-esteem and confidence until he was an emotional wreck and displaying seriously harmful behavior towards himself.
At that point, one of EPI's other aunts intervened. Clearly a remarkable woman [in more ways than one], she saw what was happening and instead of turning a blind eye or denying what was going on within the family, she put her foot down and announced that J would now come and live with her. Which he did. Almost immediately, he turned himself around, started showing an interest in learning, found a new enthusiasm for life, and eventually went to live in the US, where his cousin - son of the aunt who adopted him - was living.
He hasn't moved back since. He's made a good life for himself in the States, is successful, and sometimes comes to Iceland for visits - but he has never wanted to return permanently. He's become an American citizen and has even changed his name so there's not a vestige left of his Icelandic identity, except to those who know him well.
EPI thinks this is kind of strange. I absolutely do not. I totally get it.
AND THE WEATHER IS ...
It kept threatening to rain this morning, with odd bouts of drizzle that stopped pretty much as soon as they started. In between, the weather was fantastic - sunny with just a slight breeze, and a hint of a chill in the air to remind us that we're well into September. I went for a run along the sea and it was beautiful - then I went for physio followed by a dip in the hot pot at the Laugardalslaug pool - and it was still beautiful. Right now it's 9°C [48F] and sunrise was at 6:38 am, sunset at 8:09 pm.
Incidentally - the best thing I heard today was about all the people worldwide who have pledged to make September 11 a day of good deeds. What a wonderful display of good triumphing over evil!
Labels: All in the Family, dirty laundry
posted by Alda at 9:28 PM
<< Home