Monday, May 23, 1977
It’s been two weeks since Sander has moved. He still has not called to tell me where he is. I just don’t understand. Doesn’t he know I worry about him, and that he is the only family I have here in Canada?
Tuesday, May 24, 1977
When I came back from school, Teresa told me that my brother had just been there. I asked her what he wanted and if he left a telephone number or address where I could reach him. She said, “No, he just wanted his mail, and then he left again.” Sander knows I get off from school at 3:15 every afternoon. He knew I would be home soon, yet he couldn’t wait five minutes for me. If he knew I had money, then I am sure he would have waited for me!
Friday, May 27, 1977
Sander stopped by this evening to see if there was any mail for him. I told him I was hurt that he had not let me know where he was. He didn’t seem to care. Then I told him that mom had written that she is calling here June 5th and she wanted him to be here too. Sander said he would stop by at that time and then he left.
Sunday, June 5, 1977
Sander came over and we waited for the phone to ring. When it rang, both Sander and I talked to Mom for five minutes each. I wanted to talk to Elisabeth too, but Mom said it was too expensive. I just wanted to say “Hi” and hear her voice. When we were done talking on the phone I asked Sander what he had talked to Mom about. Sander couldn’t answer me because he was crying. Sander didn’t say much and then he left.
School is out in two weeks. Julia is both my science partner and my cooking partner. We made cream puffs in class last week, but they didn’t turn out. The cooking teacher said we needed to get together and try it again and bring them to school on Monday. I went over to Julia’s place and we tried to make the cream puffs again. We had so much fun together. I think we have too much fun and that is most likely why our cream puffs didn’t turn out in class. When we had made the cream puffs we stood anxiously by the stove to see if they would expand. Otherwise, we would have to try again. We were both relieved to see the cream puffs rise. They turned out after all! We filled them and put the icing on top. When we were done, Julia said she would bring them to school tomorrow so the teacher could see them for herself.
That evening when I got back, Nick read the Book of Mormon to me again. He was almost done with the book. Then he read Moroni Chapter 10 verses 3-4. Nick stopped reading, then he looked at me and asked, “Do you know what this means?” I answered, “No.” Nick read it again. Then he said with great excitement, “It is a promise to us that we can find out for ourselves if this book is true or not! Let’s pray right now and ask God.” We knelt and Nick said the prayer.
Monday, June 6, 1977
After school when I saw Nick he asked me, “Did you get an answer about the book?” I asked, “Did you?” He answered, “Yes.” He seemed so sure. Then Nick asked me, “Do you believe it?” I answered, “Yes.” I felt kind of envious of the excitement Nick had for the book. I wanted to feel it too. That night I knelt and asked the Lord to help me to know without a doubt if the Book of Mormon was true or not.
That night I fell asleep and I had a dream. I dreamed I saw the Salt Lake Temple. It was dark all around it, but the Temple was shining like a light in the darkness. I saw families all dressed in white. The families all looked happy. Next, I looked outside the Temple. I saw people dressed in all kinds of colorful clothes. They seemed happy too. I held my hand so I could be with the families who were all dressed in white. Then I held out my other hand so I could be with the people who were running around because I was curious to see where they were going and I liked their colorful clothing. I couldn’t hold on to both places and I would not let go of either. I fell into a pit of darkness. Just then I woke up with a jolt. I sat up in bed. I wondered what this dream meant. I lied down to think about it. I realized it must be the Lord telling me I had to choose what I wanted. At the time I did not know that people who go to the Temple dressed in white clothing nor did I know families were sealed together in the Temple. I thought the Temple was only for men and women to get married in.
I felt the church must be true. I was excited to know the Lord loved me enough to let me be born into His church. I felt with everything that had gone so wrong in my life, he had given me the gospel and I never even realized it until now.
Friday, June 10, 1977
Next week is the last day of school. When I got back from school I told Nick I couldn’t spend the summer at his house. I needed to go back to Denmark. He understood. He said, “I will send you another ticket when you are 18 and you can come back and we will travel to Utah and then get married in the Salt Lake Temple.”
I called up the airline about my ticket to Denmark. Luckily the ticket Nick had bought me was one where I could go back anytime within a year. The lady I talked to said the soonest I could fly back was Sunday, June 19, 1977. I said that would be fine. She said my ticket would be arriving in the mail in a couple of days.
Later in the evening, Nick’s family was having a get-together at his cousin’s house. They were all speaking Italian as usual. Then in front of everyone, Nick’s mom came over to me and put her arms lovingly around me as she said, “Sei uno stupido,” which means, “You are stupid.” Everyone laughed. She was pretending to say something loving to me. I smiled lovingly back and said, “Sei uno stupido tu,” which means, “You are stupid too.” Everyone laughed even louder. Nick’s mom pushed me. I have started to understand a little Italian and I understood what the relatives said to her, “Hmm, she is not as stupid as you think she is.” Oh, I can’t wait to get away from here. All the relatives except Mrs. Petruzzelli have been nice to me. But still, I couldn’t wait to leave!
Friday, June 17, 1977
Today was the last day of school. Nick was finally able to get his High School diploma.
After school, Sander came over. I told him I was going back to Denmark next week. Nick asked Sander if he wanted to go out and eat pizza with us. When we got to the restaurant I saw an old friend, Anne. I had not seen her since I went to Sir James Douglas School to learn to speak English. It had been five years since I had seen her last. We stopped to talk for a few minutes. She said, “I can’t believe how well you speak English now. When I saw you last you were just learning.” We both laughed. I said. “Yes, that was a long time ago.” She wanted my phone number so we could keep in touch. I told her I was leaving for Denmark next week. I gave her my address in Denmark so she could write me.
Saturday, June 18, 1977
I had a few dollars left that I had been saving. Nick and I went to the store to find gifts I could bring back for Mom, Bent, Grandma, and Elisabeth. After I had bought the presents, I was all out of Canadian money.
After we got back, I packed my belongings. I could not fit everything in my suitcase, including the rock collection Erik once gave me. The rocks meant a lot to me because they had very valuable gems stones in them of all different colors. Nick told me not to worry he would take good care of my things until I got back.
Later that night, I got ready to go to a dance where Nick and his band were playing. While we were at the dance I saw one of Nick’s cousins. I started to talk to her and her husband. They were sorry to hear I was going back to Denmark. When Nick and his band had a break from playing, his cousin told us they needed someone to watch the apartment complex they owned. They said Nick and I would be perfect for the job. We could have our own apartment and in return, I could vacuum the halls and make sure the halls were clean. Nick could watch the apartment and collect rent money. Nick thought it was such a good idea. He said, “This is the perfect solution! You don’t have to leave tomorrow after all!” I said, “But my ticket is all made out. We will lose it if I don’t leave tomorrow.” Nick responded, “So, what? It’s okay. We belong together!” For a split second it sounded exciting and the solution to everything. Then I got a sick feeling in my stomach telling me it was not the right thing to do. Besides I missed Elisabeth terribly. Then I said, “Nick, we are too young.” He responded, “But I am ready to settle down.” I answered, “Yes, you are 19, but I am only 15. I will be back when I am older.” Nick’s cousins tried to talk me into staying but I stood my ground. Nick cried. I felt bad, but staying just didn’t seem right to me. It was time for Nick to go back on stage. As he sang it was very hard for him to keep his composure. Later, when the dance was over I helped him and his band pack up their equipment.
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