By Debbie Must
Recent stories in the news describing the devastating floods in Australia and Brazil had the world watching as homes were destroyed and entire communities evacuated. Our hearts went out to the many who found themselves helplessly trapped in tragedy and ruin.
I was hard pressed not to feel a sense of dread and wondered how I would cope under similar circumstances. However, history has proven time and time again that the resilient nature of the human spirit will ultimately triumph when faced with adversity.
Having come from a family that was displaced as a result of WWII, I am fortunate enough to have witnessed the survival of the spirit first hand. My family fled Estonia in 1944 on a cargo boat destined for Sweden. The Captain of the vessel agreed to toss a few bricks over board in exchange for payment. The war had completely devalued the currency so the payment took the form of one hundred cigarettes.
When we find ourselves in difficult times we must refrain from seeing ourselves as the Captain of a sinking ship but rather at the helm of a vessel that is riding a wave.
My grandparents, mother and uncle fled in the middle of the night, taking with them a few articles of clothing, a meat grinder, calculator and a sewing machine. Their quick assessment of the new life that lay ahead had them thinking in very practical terms. They knew that could grind otherwise inedible meat into something palatable. My grandfather, being an engineer, would need his calculator when he began to work again. My grandmother would need to mend her family’s clothing and perhaps even find work as a seamstress. They equipped themselves with practical tools and a spirit of survival.
Ending up in a refugee camp in Sweden, they sought out others who had survived the same ordeal. They formed a community and relied on each other for support, resources and networking. Together they built better lives for themselves until the fear of Communist encroachment had them fleeing the comfort of their home again, this time to their permanent place of residence, Quebec.
Again, arriving with the same few belongings (the sewing machine has become one of my most valued possessions) they began the process of rebuilding. They gathered with other Estonians in church basements and small apartments to share stories, song (Estonians are well known for their ability to inspire change through song; check out Singing Revolution documentary) and resources. In time they rooted themselves in a new community and built homes, successful careers and educated their children. Their inner strength, resilience and strong sense of community enabled them to overcome the many challenges along the way.
Although challenges present themselves in a variety of ways, few of us are untouched by adversity. When we find ourselves in difficult times we must refrain from seeing ourselves as the Captain of a sinking ship but rather at the helm of a vessel that is riding a wave. The waters will be calm again for such is the natural ebb and flow of life.
Great story. We can learn so much about resilience from our grandparents and great grandparents who lived the immigrant experience (which many are still living today). Our freedom is the ultimate blessing that we should never take for granted. Love that photo! Wonderful you still have the sewing machine!!
Debbie, thank you so much for sharing this beautiful and inspiring story with all of us. It is important that we remember, and pass on to the next generation, what our ancestors went through in order for us to have the freedom that we have today. Valerie is so right, “Our freedom is the ultimate blessing…” AND the ultimate gift that our ancestors could have given us!
Debbie, we are so lucky that you took the time to write so beautifully the touching and inspiring story of your grandparents. Your children can be so, so proud of their heritage, made of generosity, resilience, loyalty and perseverance. These are qualities that helped the immigrants of years past make a hard, but gratifying life for their families. They could only count on themselves and their own to survive, and they did, with love for one another and great pride in their origins. What a legacy they left us! You are yourself, a perfect example of it. God bless you!