This week’s Think Write Thursday topic is to write about your heritage. Are you Irish and ready to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day tomorrow? Are you Italian or Greek or English? Tell us about your ethnic background and culture and how the traditions of your heritage fit into your lifestyle.
Well… that’s a mouth full, isn’t it? So much to think about!
My heritage is most interesting – my maternal roots are German and my paternal roots are Dutch – although, that is not hard to figure out – I was born in Zeeland, Michigan and grew up in Holland, Michigan and lived there most of my adult life!
However, some interesting facts to share:
My maiden name is Sloothaak and while there are a few of us in West Michigan, in the Netherland’s there are oodles and oodles of them! It was most enjoyable to look in the phone directory and see pages and pages and pages of my maiden name! And, in Dutch my name translates literally to “Ditch Hook” – or, really Ditch Digger. I had much fun with this – I mean really, how great is it that your claim to fame is digging ditches to keep the sewage off the streets… seriously. I am not kidding. You have my ancestors to thank if your ancestors did not have to walk in the sh*t (although, I take no responsibility for the smell!) Oh, and the pronunciation? Slōt-hăk not Slow-thack as many pronounced it in Holland – imagine my joy that in hearing those in the Netherland’s pronounce it perfectly!
My maternal grandparents have interesting history. My Grandpa was the Valedictorian of his high school class; however, his family did not have enough money to send him to college. He worked in a silk stocking mill (yes, he was a machine knitter!!) and he was also a union organizer. When he was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in his 40’s he could no longer work, but he was the most wonderful Grandpa! He daily tried to “beat the Chinaman” playing Solitaire. He was an avid reader and a bird lover who could identify birds from their call alone! He could recite Carl Sandburg and Joyce Kilmer poetry – his favorites were Fog and Trees.
My maternal grandmother was a spitfire, truly! When my grandpa was unable to work, she went to Beauty School and became a hairdresser to support her family, she was good at this though – she had to quit school in the 5th grade when her step-mother died and as the oldest, she became the caretaker for her 5 siblings. She was also an amazing cook, she sewed, and canned, and made Sauerkraut in the garage. She learned to drive late in her life when it became necessary. She was my favorite person in all the world and I miss her so much every single day, but my life is so full of what she taught me – she was absolutely the biggest influence on my life today!
So, where do these influences show up today in my life? I simply love tulips and Holland Michigan does them well, but seeing the fields in the Netherlands was equally stunning. I also love a good Saucijzebroodjes (that is Pig in the Blanket for those that don’t know Dutch) and Hempel’s Pastry made the best! I have my well worn Eet Smakelijk Cookbook.
I also am a good Lutheran (well, as good as a Lutheran can be, you know Martin Luther did say ‘sin, and sin boldly’ and believe me I do!) I love Knödel (and my nana made the best!) While I do not make Sauerkraut in the garage, I do love it! And don’t forget the Bratwurst! However, the best nod to my heritage is my indomitable spirit that won’t give up. (In other words, I am as bull-headed as any German you might have ever met! LOL)
There you have it, a brief glimpse into the heritage of me! What things did your heritage give you?
If you want to see what others shared today, you can do so here. And, if you would like to take this Think Write Thursday journey with Carole and I, you can sign up here! We would love to have you join us!
You come from some very hard-working, persistent, and capable stock! I love all the things you got from them, especially your grandmother’s influence. Thanks for those ditches and keep up your tenaciousness!
What an interesting background you have! I loved reading about your grandparents.
My family all came originally from Eastern Europe. My paternal grandmother’s family emigrated from Poland to Toronto in the early 20th century after they lost a child (my grandmother was born in Toronto). Had they not left when they did, they almost certainly would have perished in the Holocaust. Meanwhile, my paternal grandfather came to the U.S. from Kiev, then in Russia. They met in the Yiddish theater — he was an actor, she a dancer. I never met him (he died when my dad was only 10), but my grandmother lived to 90 and I still have wonderful memories of her food — gefilte fish and cookies, most especially — and of her calling me “Sarahleh.”
So very interesting!! Thank you for sharing your stories!
I really enjoyed reading about your background. Those words are hard to figure out the pronunciation of just from looking at them – thanks for giving us some assistance!
Lots of spunk, determination and joie de vivre in your hardworking family. Ah the tulips of Holland MI…I remember them fondly also as a child born/growing up in MI tho’ not Holland.
Thx for sharing… your words are a wonderful tribute to your heritage.
Cheers~
It’s always interesting to hear family stories. Thanks for sharing yours! (And I know some Sloothaaks in Holland. . . )
Very nice to “meet” you. One little bit about my heritage is my family was on the very first wagon train to come to Utah, yes, the one led by Brigham Young.
so interesting! I am very very Polish. both grandparents are off the boat. Both grandmothers were born in the US with parents that came off the boat from Poland 🙂
Tulip time in The Netherlands! Our younger son has accepted a job in Amsterdam, to start later this year or early in 2018; I was a bit bummed when is really hit me how far away he would be… until I thought of Tulip Time! An annual trip to The Netherlands in the spring would go a long way toward consoling me for *losing* my boy.
This was such an interesting topic and I love reading about your story(ies!) You certainly come by your love of tulips honestly. And your feistiness 🙂