SUMMER'S CHILD INTERVIEW WITH SOLVEIG

SUMMER’S CHILD – PART I

Beginning in 1939, Erik Jorgenson, a Lutheran pastor in Kinservik, Norway, experienced a dream he interprets as a message from God. In the dream he’s told to leave Norway, thus sending his family on an epic journey. For his wife, Solveig, leaving Norway is the most devastating experience in her life.

SOLVEIG’S INTERVIEW

1.)    How did you feel about Erik’s dream? Oh, that damnable dream. Eric had been talking about it for weeks. Then one morning he tells me God is speaking to him. I tried to tell him God doesn’t talk to poor Norwegian Lutheran ministers, but he wouldn’t listen to me.

2.)    Your parents, siblings and friends were all supportive. Once you were on your way to the United States, did you think this was going to be a good move for you? I knew it would be a good move for Eric, but I had no desire to leave Norway…my home…everything. Once I learned I was pregnant it was even worse. Eric was certain this child would be a boy, but I worried about it being a girl. I doubted he’d be able to accept that.

3.)    How did you think Erik felt about your children once your youngest daughter was born? Karl is special since he’s Erik’s first son. Of course, Johann is the most like Eric. I’m certain he will follow in his father’s footsteps and become a minister. Kristin is his beautiful daughter, but Anne just doesn’t belong. I often wonder what things would have been like if her twin brother, Swen, had been the one to survive.

4.)    As your children have grown, have your feelings for Anne changed? Anne is a difficult child to love. No matter what Erik says, he can’t get through to her. I don’t understand why she’s not content to associate with the young people from our church and marry like her sister. Why is college so important to her? Higher education is meant for the boys. Karl is a respected doctor and Johann is on his way to becoming a minister. It’s right for them, but not for Anne.

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