“The family is one of nature’s masterpieces” -George Santayana

Right now, being at home everyday with my family sometimes feels like more of a mess of scribbles than a masterpiece.  

The coronavirus pandemic has changed our lives so drastically so quickly.  It’s hard to adjust to being at home all day everyday. Going to school turned into staying at home.  Going out to eat turned into.. eating at home. Going to the movies turned into.. watching a movie at home.  And lastly, hanging out with your friends, turned into… hanging out with whoever is at home. Most likely, your family.  

In my house of 5, it’s not exactly quiet to begin with, but during quarantine, it’s even more hectic.  My mom, dad, brother, sister, and I all have online meetings everyday for school/work every day. You could say we get on one another’s nerves a little bit.  It gets pretty annoying when you’re trying to talk to your teacher on a Google Hangout and someone is slamming the cabinets shut downstairs, or better yet…setting the fire alarm off from burning their chicken nuggets.  With everyone in one space trying to do their own thing, conflict is almost inevitable. There have been a few small family feuds. (haha)

Don’t get me wrong, I love my family.  They’re awesome. It’s just hard being around them and only them all day every day.  I miss my friends and talking to different people on a daily basis.  

Although we get on each other’s nerves sometimes, this quarantine has allowed us to spend more time as a family.  We don’t have games and practices to go to every night or anywhere else to go, so we have more time to bond with each other.  With this slower pace, we’ve been able to go on lots of walks and hikes as a family. We have also been doing lots of projects around the house that we never would have had time for before, such as organizing the drawers and cabinets, painting a few rooms, repainting our deck, and refurbishing an old dresser in our basement.  I don’t think my dogs have ever been walked this much in their lives, which they are happy about.  

I’m thankful that my sister Norah is only two years younger than me.  We are pretty close, and it’s nice to have someone around your age in the house that you can relate to.  Norah can be moody sometimes, but it’s okay. My brother William is 10, but he is pretty mature for his age.  He is super sarcastic and funny, and he makes me laugh. William has been teaching me how to play Fortnite on his XBox, which is fun, even though I’m very bad and hide the whole time.  

During this time, I think it’s so important to look at the positive things that are going on.  Even though it sucks that I’m stuck at home and can’t see anyone outside of my household, I’m getting to spend more time with my family, having a lot more free-time, and going on lots of walks with my dogs.  Although it can feel like scribbles, positivity can turn this time into a masterpiece!

“Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer.”  Marcel Proust  

I come from a modest middle class family, however, every summer my parents have made it a priority to travel as a family to some destination.  The types of trips have varied for sure. The summer my brother was born we spent a week in Door County. We have also been on cross country road trips and have flown several times.  These trips have instilled in me the importance of family trips and experiences.     

A few years ago, my aunt Mandy had gifted me a scratch off map of the United States.  The map is covered with gold foil. The map is meant to be a fun way to keep track of travel destinations.  Once you travel to a state, you scratch off the foil to reveal amazing watercolor states. I find it interesting, and I have recently read the statistic that the average American has traveled to 12 states.  I have enjoyed keeping track of my travels on the map that now hangs on my bedroom wall. 15 – that’s my current number. I don’t count the number of drive-through states, in which I only traveled through and don’t really remember.  I plan to keep on scratching – I’d like to eventually scratch off all 50 states!                

The summer of 2020 – we had an incredible family trip planned.  I planned to scratch off several more states. We planned a road trip to the East Coast.  The highlight of the trip would have been going to New York City. We planned to visit all the most famous attractions – Central Park, the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, Times Square – even a Broadway Show.  I have never been there. Now, due to COVID-19, it certainly seems as though the trop will no longer happen. It’s a huge disappointment for sure. Besides NYC, I have another travel opportunity I’ve been dreaming of for years.   

“Merry Christmas from your dear aunts Lori and Mandy.  Instead of getting you more “stuff”, we wanted to get you something more meaningful–an actual experience that you will remember for years to come.  So for the next 6 years for Christmas and your birthday, we’re planning to give you money to put into a travel fund that you’ll get to use the year you graduate.  You get to pick the destination of your dreams and your super cool aunts will join you for a trip to that special place you’ve always wanted to go.” 

This is an excerpt from a note I received on holiday paper on Christmas Eve 2017.

I read the note in wonderment.  Really?! I could choose a trip anywhere in the world!  I received this note more than 3 years ago! One would think that I would have already made a decision about where I want to go.  I will graduate in just over a year! Perhaps surprisingly, I am no closer to making a decision now than I was when I first read the letter.  I have enjoyed dreaming and considering all my options. I have been putting some more thought into my options during this school closure. Costa Rica was a front runner – however, I now have a trip planned there with my Spanish Club next summer.  At the front of my list is Europe – maybe Italy. I certainly wonder how the COVID-19 crisis will impact travel even a year from now. 

“The world is a book.  And those who do not travel read only one page.”  -St. Augustine 

My travels have given me valuable family memories and experiences that could not come from a book or a classroom.  I feel I am fortunate to have a family – parents, grandparents and aunts that have prioritized experiences over “things.”  Travel has broadened my mind and given me a perspective of what life is like outside Whitehall. Most important, I feel my experiences have made me more adventurous, open and curious. I will continue to pray that the world will soon return to “normal” and travel in the US and around the world will again be possible.  And I will keep on dreaming of my dream travel destination with my 2 terrific aunts. The world awaits!

“Nashville is resilient.  I have so much faith in this community and its ability to be there for those in need.”  Brad Paisley – Country Music Singer and Songwriter

You may have heard about the recent tragedies in Nashville, Tennessee. For my family, they hit close to home.

My mom’s sister, my aunt Lori, graduated from Whitehall High School in 1998.  After graduating from UW Eau Claire she moved to Nashville, Tennessee to pursue a dream of working in the music business.  Lori moved by herself from our small town knowing no one. She moved to Tennessee before I was even born and I’ve always known her as my aunt from Nashville.  Nashville’s nickname is “Music City” and like Lori, many artists and musicians have moved to Nashville with dreams of becoming a musician or working in the music business.    

Shortly after moving to Nashville, Lori’s dream came true.  She started working as a publicist for country music artist Ricky Skaggs.  Skaggs is a Country Music Hall of Fame member and grammy award winning artist.  He is also a member of the Grand Ole Opry. From there, Lori became a publicist for a music label called Dualtone Records.  Lori has worked for Dualtone for 15 years and is now an executive with the label. Dualtone Records has multiple grammy awards and Lori travels around the country with her label’s artists.       

I’ve been fortunate to visit my aunt in Nashville at least once a year.  I have had the opportunity to tour historic mansions and plantations, the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Grand Ole Opry and Andrew Jackson’s home.  I have been on the legendary Broadway’s main strip and listened to great music and people-watched in honky-tonks. I have hiked and played in the City’s parks.  I have gone to many minor league baseball games. But most fun of all has been simply hanging out with my aunt.      

Lori lives in East Nashville.  Frommer’s describes it as an “eclectic” neighborhood with a “creative vibe that attracts many musicians and artists.”  East Nashville is known to be full of locals versus travelers. It’s known for its food and small music venues.  To me, East Nashville seems like a smaller community within a big city. Lori has lived in 2 different homes in East Nashville. My family has gotten to know it fairly well and we have our favorite restaurants and shops and boutiques we frequent when we visit. 

My mom woke up last Tuesday in the middle of the night and first learned that a tornado had hit Nashville.  She immediately texted Lori for confirmation that she was alright. As night turned into morning, the news reported the tornado had hit her East Nashville neighborhood.  Of course we were worried sick … while waiting to hear from her. It was around 8 am when Lori first contacted family in Wisconsin and reported she was fine and her home had no damage.  We were relieved to learn she was safe and sound!  

Shortly after, Lori drove through the devastation of her East Nashville neighborhood.  She arrived at her office at Dualtone Records. Lori sent photos of the terrible aftermath. Unfortunately, Dualtone Records was totaled by the tornado.  Lori described herself as being “in a daze” in the tornado’s aftermath. There was so much destruction – so many homes and businesses were destroyed that night.  And worst of all, 25 people lost their lives in the tragedy.  

It saddens me to think of all that was lost in Music City, the dreams of so many ended that day, in an instant.  Thankfully Lori and her boyfriend, their 2 dogs and home were all safe and sound. Lori is encouraged by the cleanup efforts that have taken place since the tornado ripped through her beautiful city.  Although I know the city will be forever changed, I too have faith in Paisley’s sentiments and believe in his optimism during this difficult time. I know Nashville is strong and will be waiting with open arms when I next visit.

“I love summertime more than anything else in the world. That is the only thing that gets me through the winter, knowing that summer is going to be there.” -Jack McBrayer

Personally, February is a tough month to get through.  Cold and snow were fine when there was that Christmas feeling in the air, but now there’s no Christmas break to look forward to, and the high has been -10 degrees for the past four months.  At least the days are getting longer, but it’s still getting dark by about 6:00 pm. This time of the year, thoughts of summer are constantly at the back of my mind.

One of my favorite summertime family traditions is renting a cabin up in Northern Wisconsin for a week.  The cabin is situated on sleepy Deer Lake and the water is central to our relaxation and fun. The cabin’s expansive front porch overlooks the majestic lake and about 50 limestone steps lead us from the front porch to paradise.  Our days are spent lounging by the water, strolling on the pontoon, swimming, fishing and kayaking with one another.

One of my favorite things about being at the cabin is that there is absolutely NO SERVICE.  Although it’s sometimes hard to break away from my phone at first, I’m glad that I can’t use it there.  It’s a nice break from everything else and allows me to really relax and be care-free. 

Food is also something I look forward to on our week up north.  Each morning begins with a campfire and a big, hearty breakfast.  While there, we always treat ourselves to an evening at Paul’s Pizza Den in Birchwood for their tasty pizza.  Otherwise, we do a lot of grilling, and each night ends with a roaring campfire and of course s’mores. 

A day of rain isn’t anything to be disappointed about that week.  It’s on a rainy day that we travel about an hour to Tremblay’s Sweet Shop in Hayward.  If you’ve never been there, it’s incredible. They have a huge selection of candy and visitors can watch them make their old-fashioned handmade fudge and other candies.  They have large amounts of samples, of which I always take full advantage of. My brother and sister and I each get to fill a bag for our own selection when we visit.  

Another thing we do is spend a day tubing the Namekagon River.  We tether our tubes together and head out on the river. It is a relaxing, refreshing day of floating and swimming the river.  One of the most exhilarating or should I say frightening parts of one of our trips was when without warning a birch tree cracked and toppled over within 30 feet of our tubes!     

Back at the cabin, it is not uncommon for us to be the only ones out on the lake – that is except for the pair of loons that circle the lake.  Their hauntingly beautiful call adds to their mystique. At the cabin, we are surrounded by wildlife – deer, beaver, snapping turtles, eagles, fox, bear, otter, Northerns and many, many bullheads are common and more prevalent than fellow humans.      

“Looking out over the lake, I felt enveloped in the most peaceful, loving utopia.”  -Laurie Kahn

I absolutely can’t wait for the lazy summer days at the cabin.  Each day is an opportunity to soak up nature and the beauty that surrounds me.  It is my time to recharge, unplug and be more mindful in my life. So, my countdown is on.  Only about 112 days to go … utopia awaits!

“What’s in a name?  That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”  Spoken by Juliet in Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare.  

What truly is in a name?  All of us have a name story.  Some of our name stories are simple, while some are more meaningful.  The name given to some of us at birth sometimes becomes our true identity.  

I have a simple name story. I have always known my name, OLIVIA, to mean “olive tree.”   According to my parents, they had originally chosen Isabelle and then opted against it when a well meaning family member began referring to me as “Izzy” before I was even born.  They didn’t’ like that so much. Ultimately, my parents say they simply liked the name OLIVIA – they thought OLIVIA and all potential nicknames were “pretty” names.

My maternal grandfather has a more meaningful name story.  His name is VITUS Kampa (the same Vitus in some of my previous blog posts. He’s a really interesting dude).  His namesake was his maternal grandfather named VITUS Reck, born June 15, 1850 to a Catholic family in Chroscice, Prussia.   

As VITUS tells it, it was common at the time of VITUS Reck’s birth for parents to name their children after Catholic Saints.  It just so happens that Saint Vitus’ Day is celebrated on June 15th, his day of birth, and that is how VITUS Reck received his name.

VITUS Reck eventually moved to Trempealeau County and had 22 children.  With all those children, he had ample opportunity, and he named one of his sons, VITUS Reck, Junior.  My great grandmother, AUGUSTA (Reck) Kampa had 3 daughters before giving birth to her only son, named what else – VITUS.    

According to Wikipedia, Saint Vitus is the Catholic saint of actors and entertainers.       According to MyNameStats.com, the name VITUS “is ranked as the 25338th most popular given name in the United States with an estimated population of 195.”  

My grandfather is truly a one-of-a-kind, passionate individual.  He never fails to entertain everyone he encounters- he is well known for his many antics – whether it be fanatically cheering on his favorite sports teams, talking incessantly to anyone who crosses his path, or sharing his never ending passion for family history.   His unique name – VITUS defines him. When asked about his name, my grandfather said, he loves his name “because it’s unique.” He also says he likes the name VITUS – because “he’s not mistaken for anyone else.” He also says he likes how his name ties him to being “part of a family tradition.”  

My grandfather is known by one name.  It’s fun to be able to say my grandfather is VITUS – that’s all anyone in this area has to know.  Everyone knows him. If they know VITUS – they know my grandfather. And I think that’s pretty cool.  So does he.    

Now you may be wondering, does the family tradition end with my grandfather?  Well, he had 3 daughters – so no namesakes. My mother had 2 daughters before my brother was born in 2009.  His name – WILLIAM VITUS! And my grandfather VITUS, certainly was thrilled to have his first grandson. Juliet questioned centuries ago, “What is in a name?”  When my grandfather learned he had a namesake, that his grandson was named WILLIAM VITUS, the news could not have been any sweeter.   

 “The best part about Genealogy is searching for ancestors and finding friends.” – Lawrence Dillard

To recap my last post… 

My grandfather Vitus wrote a letter to the city of Gmina Popielow around ten years ago.  The letter found its way to an unlikely man named Tomasz Graca, Popielow’s Assistant Mayor’s son in law.  Yes, I say unlikely. Tomasz is no relation to my family, he lives in Poland – more than 1500 miles from Wisconsin and lastly, he is a man nearly half my grandfather’s age.  

Initially, Tomasz jumped at the opportunity to practice his English by translating my grandfather’s letter.  My grandfather, of course was deeply interested in his Polish ancestry. The rest is history (no pun intended).  Their friendship was born out of mutual curiosity. Communicating via email and Skype developed into a true friendship.

My grandmother Gustie’s dream had been to visit her Homeland. Although she never had the opportunity, my grandfather Vitus fulfilled his own personal dream, for the first time in 2013.   Tomasz and my grandfather planned what he called the “trip of a lifetime” in 2013. Tomasz welcomed my grandfather and my two aunts in 2015.

In 2015, I had the great privilege to travel to Poland with my grandfather and my mother.  The trip has truly thus far, been my trip of a lifetime. It is surreal to imagine the connection to my ancestors. I walked some of the same cobblestone streets and shared some of the same places of worship as my ancestors some 150 years ago. 

Trip highlights include visiting the Baltic Sea, staying in a 16th century apartment in Torun, Poland, and visiting castles including Ksiaz Castle – constructed beginning in the 1200’s.  It’s amazing to think about how much history there is in Europe compared to the United States. A life-changing experience was visiting Auschwitz Concentration Camp.  Traveling to Poland is the most incredible experience I’ve had thus far in my life, and I hope to one day return to Europe.

In 2017, Tomasz welcomed my grandfather for a 3rd trip.  This summer the friendship came full circle when Tomasz, his wife, Anna, his daughter, Helenka, son, Karol and mother-in-law Marietta visited my family in Wisconsin the Summer of 2019. It was an amazing experience having them here in the United States. I hope to see them again soon – whether here or there!

“We all carry inside us, people who came before us.” – Liam Callanan

“In all of us there is a hunger, marrow deep, to know our heritage — to know who we are and where we come from.”  – Alex Haley.

Personally, I don’t have to wonder where I come from. My grandpa knows! In my last post, I shared a family tradition from Norway. In this post, I will talk about a completely different part of my heritage- the Polish part!

For as long as I can remember, my grandpa Vitus Kampa has been an ancestry fanatic.  He was raised in Independence, Wisconsin. His maternal grandparents came to Wisconsin as immigrants from Poland, and his paternal grandparents were both 1st generation Americans- their parents were immigrants from Poland.  To give you an idea of his knowledge, my grandpa could tell me the name of my great, great, great, great grandmother and probably the name of her dog, too. All his ancestors came from the same small villages in Poland – mainly Gmina Popielow in the mid to late 1800’s.

I have always enjoyed hearing stories of my grandfather’s childhood, still very much immersed in Polish tradition.  His parents and grandparents spoke Polish, but didn’t teach any of their children. My grandpa says they would only use it at home when they were talking about something they didn’t want the kids to know about.  I have learned only a few select Polish words and sayings including “stajenka” – which means Nativity Scene, “babushka” – which means grandmother, and “sto lat” – which is how you wish someone a happy birthday, but translates literally to “may you live 100 years”.

Food is an important part of any culture and one’s heritage.  In my family, select Polish recipes have been passed down from generation to generation.  Personal favorites include pierogis- dumplings filled with meat or cheese- and poppyseed coffee cake.   My grandpa also makes “Makowka”- a Polish poppy seed bread pudding- which does not happen to be a favorite of mine, however.

My grandfather recalls his mother, Gustie, dreaming of visiting relatives in her parents’ homeland.  Unfortunately, she never did get that opportunity. My grandfather, however, became interested in learning more about his Polish roots about 10 years ago, and wrote a letter to the village of Popielow, where his ancestors had come from.  This letter found its way to the Popielow Assistant Mayor’s son-in-law, Tomasz Graca. This letter would be the beginning of beautiful friendships which allowed my grandfather to take three trips to Poland- one of which I had the opportunity to go on.

“The story of his great-grandfather … was his own story, too” wrote novelist and poet Kelly Cherry.  I suppose the same could be said of my great-grandmother, her parents and grandparents and I in subtle ways.  Although I never had the privilege to meet “Babushka Gustie”, I’d like to think she’d be pleased to know me and learn how her dream has lived-on and her Polish family’s traditions have continued.  

Daniel Willingham once said, “Family traditions reveal what you value enough to repeat, and- if done with love- build warm, happy associations.”  Or, in my family’s case, we build warm, fresh lefse.

My family has been making lefse, a traditional Norwegian flatbread, for six generations in America!  When I was younger, my Great Grandma Mavis, a proud Norwegian, would take the lead each year in our lefse making.  She would always encourage our participation, saying, “You all need to learn, because some day I’m not going to be here and you will all need to do it yourselves.”  And so, we learned. My family has carried on my great grandma’s Norwegian tradition by making it twice a year every year- once for Thanksgiving and once for Christmas.  

If you’ve never had lefse- or homemade lefse- you are truly missing out.  As my great grandma would say, “the store-bought stuff is as thick as a tortilla.”  It’s true- it’s just not the same. There’s something about fresh, homemade, buttered lefse. It just hits different. Although there are very few ingredients and seemingly straightforward directions, lefse making is not quite so simple. 

It starts with an uncomplicated recipe. Potatoes, margarine, sugar, flour, a little salt. First, the potatoes are riced and the other ingredients are mixed in. Once the ingredients are mixed, the dough is shaped into balls. When the balls are made, it’s time to turn each of them into a thin, delicate sheet. The dough is rolled… and rolled… then flipped and rolled… and flipped again.. then rolled some more. It may not look so challenging, but it takes skill and practice- and lots of flour- to roll the dough into a thin, circular shape without any holes or tears. Once the lefse is rolled to perfection- the thinner the better- the lefse is lifted with a lefse stick onto the griddle and allowed to brown just a little bit before it is carefully flipped over. After the lefse has been transformed on the griddle, it is covered with a cotton towel (festive patterns encouraged!). Now, roll it up with butter and enjoy!

Making lefse is always a good time. We get together, make lefse, watch a football game on TV, and enjoy the company of family. (Imagine how many times you hear the words “Uff da” in an hour!)

Because not every family member has mastered the techniques of making lefse, a fraction of the lefses are doomed to be “taste-testers”. Some of these lefses end up in wacky shapes, having holes, or get burned on the griddle. When this happens, no one complains because the bloopers are the only ones anyone is allowed to eat the day we make them! Even these ones taste good!

Making lefse is how my family carries on my great grandma’s traditions. This is the fun- and tasty- way we celebrate our Norwegian heritage!