EMERGENCE OF VISION

"We find after years of struggle that we don't take a trip, a trip takes us" John Steinbeck

"Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die life is a broken-winged bird, that cannot fly." Langston Hughes


I am very excited that I recently have been inspired with a very specific vision for my trip to India.  Up until now it has been about visiting some dear friends and places, but with no clear agenda. I want to share the vision that is emerging.

From Left to Right: my great grandmother, Louise,
my grandmother, Marie, my great great grandmother Doris,
and a great Aunt (Libele?)
Year: 1900

   A few years ago we found the diary of my great great grandmother, Doris (Voss) Hahn.  I have to admit that it was the first time our family history really stirred me. Even though I've had plenty of opportunity to get inspired in this family, something just clicked with her.  I find myself, perhaps, a little like her.  Her diary was very moving and I learned so much about what life in India was like for them in the early 20th century.   The two stories she recorded that stirred me the most was the Internment of Germans (including the missionaries) in British India during WWI and the hospice and death of my great great grandfather up in Mussoorie.

If I am able to arrange the time with work, I plan to go around October 12-November 12.  My itinerary for this trip includes visiting Mumbai, Delhi, Ludhiana in Punjab (tentative) and Mussoorie in Uttarakhand.  I am looking forward to staying a few weeks in Mussoorie, the mountain town where I went to school for 10 years. Woodstock, the school, is certainly a worthy place to revisit after so many year. However, my main interest is to be up in the mountains again and to learn more about Mussoorie, the town.  With my past experience in community development, political science and sociology I've become keenly interested in what kind of place it has become.  The ongoing community life beyond being a haven from the heat for tourists. How structures, institutions, NGOs, faith groups, and residents relate to each other and outsiders.

A life long dream of mine has been to go to Mussoorie and write a novel, or something.  I've never been clear on what, but just have always wanted to write.  Suddenly, this vision has taken form to track the journey of my great great grandmother's time in Mussoorie as communicated in her journal.  Why not write a parallel journal (kind of like Julia/Julia.)  I just read the journal over and realized that this will be very deep stuff because it's about a man dying!  But there is nothing like facing our mortality to make for a good book!! Researching for a book is always a good excuse for stopping to talk to people and get to know the context of the surroundings. Whatever material I may unearth that is not directly related to this story may provide material for further writing. The horizons suddenly stretch out before me.

Sunset seen from Mussoorie

This will be the first of several trips.  A second trip will be in 2014 or 2015 and will specifically be designed as a Heritage Tour with family: my sister, niece and hopefully my son and daughter.  It will be a huge challenge to find a time that works for everyone. Christmas holidays might work and a good time to be in the region].  On this tour we will visit the places where four (or is it five) generations worked: Bihar, Orissa, Chatisghar. And may well lead to additional chapters to the parallel journal that I begin on this trip.

Writing can be a solitary activity, however, what I'm seeing rise on the horizon is a joint work, a collaborative journey. While I wish to stay focused on this new found vision, I do hope to expand my vision and incorporate the hopes and dreams and desires of those companions with whom I will travel. And as always, to be attentive to and remain in step with my Creator and Lord.

I have to also mention that Lois, my sister, is a huge help as the family historian. She is digging up pictures and details that I've not even begun to wrap my mind around.  My hope is that by focusing on one little slice of life several generations back in a location that was so central to our lives growing up, that we will bring greater understanding of our family heritage. Bringing the past together with the present to cast a new light on our future and our vision of it.