OSKAR as “Mr. Fix It”
Uncle Oskar could fix or repair anything and everything.
AND there were times ~ he would improve how something worked…
Unlike my father, Dick - who was all thumbs. Could not fix anything. NOTHING. Line to a lamp get frayed; time to buy a new lamp.
He could change a light bulb and that was about it.
Now Uncle Oskar would tell Ragna, my Mother to just save things and when he came; he would fix them. As my brother Richard and I
started to get older; we would hear this and then we would remind Ragna to just wait for Uncle Oskar.
He was a wizard at bike repair. Not only did he fix our bikes; but all children within about a 3 block area of our house. He was always very good to our friends. They loved him too!
I remember once, my brother really needed a new chain. Dick was too cheap to buy one and with Uncle Oskar there at the time to repair….
Well ~ about 2 or 3 weeks after Uncle Oskar went back to Boston; the chain fell off. Dick tries to fix and of course this goes poorly. I am sitting on the steps to the house and Dick & Richard are in the middle of the yard. Richard got so frustrated [as only a child can] and he actually yelled at Dick, “Why can’t you be more like Uncle Oskar ??? “ ummmhumm time stopped. Richie ran into the house; up to his room; fell onto his bed; face buried in pillow; and could not stop crying…
Took a few days; but Dick had to take the bike to a repair shop…
I remember one time; we were in Trumbull, Conn so I was 18 or 19 and Richard 16 or 17… My Mother had a big pile of stuff in all stages of needing repair.
And it was about time for Uncle Oskar to visit. We NEVER doubted he would come…
We always wondered WHEN !
As an aside ~ it is ABSOLUTELY TRUE. His wife Caroline ~ never left Boston to come with him on any trip he ever made to visit us. NEVER ONCE.
I meet Caroline cause I went to Boston !!!!!!
Back to repairs. Richard was home alone and he just called Uncle Oskar ; told him we missed him; and Mama’s pile was getting to big to hide from Dick and he needed to come see us… Richard said Oskar roared with laughter … And he did. Not long after he did come and he fixed all that he could and couple things really did need to be replaced.
To also be clear ~ the little bit of handiness my brother knew he acquired because Uncle Oskar ALWAYS let Richard watch and/or help. Help really when he got to be a teenager. Dick taught Richard how to write a check J
I also feel a need to be completely honest. WHENEVER one or more of my Mother’s brother’s came to the States to visit; she had them fix things too !!!! I was not at home for those visits but I always heard the stories… and there was ALWAYS something to fix.
Richie and I were always grateful when Mama’s brother’s came ~ cause they ALWAYS helped her. Always.
And there is this story about Uncle Gisli helping somebody try to put up a Shed. [probably Dick ] And who ever; would not listen to Gisli; so the Roof was the floor and the floor was the roof… ummmhumm That was a BIG Do-Over .. .. ..
Another favorite is that Dick controlled everything; even down to the paint color. He went out of town for some conference and was gone for like 7 days. Me and 2 of my girl friends helped my Mother PAINT the Living Room a color RAGNA wanted. My friend Sue could drive and I had baby sitting money to help pay for the paint..
So this is my teen age years in Rochester, NY. We got paint everywhere but had fun!!! The change was subtle. Very subtle. Actually took Dick a couple of days to question and then Mama said since you did not notice right away you have no complaint… that was good. And that color stayed up forever .. .. .. uff
Uncle Oskar could fix or repair anything and everything.
AND there were times ~ he would improve how something worked…
Unlike my father, Dick - who was all thumbs. Could not fix anything. NOTHING. Line to a lamp get frayed; time to buy a new lamp.
He could change a light bulb and that was about it.
Now Uncle Oskar would tell Ragna, my Mother to just save things and when he came; he would fix them. As my brother Richard and I
started to get older; we would hear this and then we would remind Ragna to just wait for Uncle Oskar.
He was a wizard at bike repair. Not only did he fix our bikes; but all children within about a 3 block area of our house. He was always very good to our friends. They loved him too!
I remember once, my brother really needed a new chain. Dick was too cheap to buy one and with Uncle Oskar there at the time to repair….
Well ~ about 2 or 3 weeks after Uncle Oskar went back to Boston; the chain fell off. Dick tries to fix and of course this goes poorly. I am sitting on the steps to the house and Dick & Richard are in the middle of the yard. Richard got so frustrated [as only a child can] and he actually yelled at Dick, “Why can’t you be more like Uncle Oskar ??? “ ummmhumm time stopped. Richie ran into the house; up to his room; fell onto his bed; face buried in pillow; and could not stop crying…
Took a few days; but Dick had to take the bike to a repair shop…
I remember one time; we were in Trumbull, Conn so I was 18 or 19 and Richard 16 or 17… My Mother had a big pile of stuff in all stages of needing repair.
And it was about time for Uncle Oskar to visit. We NEVER doubted he would come…
We always wondered WHEN !
As an aside ~ it is ABSOLUTELY TRUE. His wife Caroline ~ never left Boston to come with him on any trip he ever made to visit us. NEVER ONCE.
I meet Caroline cause I went to Boston !!!!!!
Back to repairs. Richard was home alone and he just called Uncle Oskar ; told him we missed him; and Mama’s pile was getting to big to hide from Dick and he needed to come see us… Richard said Oskar roared with laughter … And he did. Not long after he did come and he fixed all that he could and couple things really did need to be replaced.
To also be clear ~ the little bit of handiness my brother knew he acquired because Uncle Oskar ALWAYS let Richard watch and/or help. Help really when he got to be a teenager. Dick taught Richard how to write a check J
I also feel a need to be completely honest. WHENEVER one or more of my Mother’s brother’s came to the States to visit; she had them fix things too !!!! I was not at home for those visits but I always heard the stories… and there was ALWAYS something to fix.
Richie and I were always grateful when Mama’s brother’s came ~ cause they ALWAYS helped her. Always.
And there is this story about Uncle Gisli helping somebody try to put up a Shed. [probably Dick ] And who ever; would not listen to Gisli; so the Roof was the floor and the floor was the roof… ummmhumm That was a BIG Do-Over .. .. ..
Another favorite is that Dick controlled everything; even down to the paint color. He went out of town for some conference and was gone for like 7 days. Me and 2 of my girl friends helped my Mother PAINT the Living Room a color RAGNA wanted. My friend Sue could drive and I had baby sitting money to help pay for the paint..
So this is my teen age years in Rochester, NY. We got paint everywhere but had fun!!! The change was subtle. Very subtle. Actually took Dick a couple of days to question and then Mama said since you did not notice right away you have no complaint… that was good. And that color stayed up forever .. .. .. uff