Give my regards to Esjan

Every time I visited my grandmother in Denmark, she asked me to deliver this greeting to her favourite mountain Esja. My grandmother’s name was Jakobína Guðmundsdóttir Ottesen Boeskov, called Bína. She was born in 1908 in Skorhaga,  Brynjudal, the third youngest of 16 siblings.  She married Lauritz Boeskov from Denmark and they lived in Blómvangur, Mosfellssveit. They ran a nursery and had a beautiful view of the mountain Esja.

 

In 1946, my grandparents moved to Denmark with 5 children and expecting the sixth. 

I have often thought of how difficult this journey this must have been, leaving Iceland and a big family behind and starting a new life in Denmark. My grandparents lived in Birkerød for the rest of their lives, and grandma was thankful for the beautiful view she had there, although she always missed the ever-changing mountain Esja.

 

In 2006, my grandmother passed away.

She was 98 years old and had lived in Denmark for 60 years. I dedicate this series to my amma, with gratitude for all the good memories.