Pictured Life: And True Stories from Northern and Upper Michigan – Author: Anneke Letitia Van Ooyen Crans – Photographer/Author
Amazing to most people – Living I.N.S.I.D.E. – Incredible, Necessary, Immobility, Danger, Exit!
Blonde curly long hair, smiling and happy, Anneke skipped on her way to school with her sister, Tineke, not realizing the many changes that would come inter her life within her first year in the USA. Tineke held tight onto her sister’s hand. A long fifteen -day journey crossing the Atlantic Ocean to the United States of America would be a greatest lifetime experience for Anneke, sister Tineke, sister Janny, and baby brother Peter with her parents Klass and Eimie Hoekstra-Van Ooyen.
“Hold her tight, Tineke, Anneke loves to run,” Anneke’s mom gently spoke. Anneke loved her teacher, and her new school. Anneke turned around and waved bye to her mom.
At the age of one day before Anneke turned five, Anneke’s walked once again to her new school. North Bessemer School; a school built with pride by early 20th century immigrants. Three wise owls looked down upon the children as they entered through a large, mahogany brown ancient wooden door. Anneke saw the large lock. She opened the door. Protection and wisdom – our ancestors knew their children needed protection, with hope for wisdom and opportunity in a new country.
Anneke’s teacher gave her a new name. “Anneke, your name will be Anne in the USA, in your new kindergarten classroom.” Our teacher’s name was Miss Rose. We loved our teacher.
I like my new name. I was happy to be called Anne by my kind teacher.
Thank you, listeners, reader, and viewers, I welcome you to my recently published book, “Pictured Life: And True Stories from Northern and Upper Michigan”
Listen to the wisdom of the our ancestors. Feel their pain and view the beauty. Taste the delicious red apples and smell the perfumed aroma of the stunning dark red rose.
Anneke Letitia Hoekstra-Van Ooyen Crans
Anne Theda Crans
Early morning mist
Ripples upon water
Calls
Loons
The Great-horned Eagle above
The Cry
Down Feather viewed
I Weep
