Somsens from far away travelling to other Somsens

by Dikky Somsen-Lenselink [133]

VISITORS FROM CANADA

On a very hot day, no less than 29 degrees centigrade, on Tuesday 16 May 2000, Jo |63| and Teun Hunse |68| together with their daughter Cora |188| arrive in Zwolle to spend their holidays in our apartment on the sixth floor. It was a long trip with many delays and Jo and Teun and Cora are very tired. My husband Dick and I still try to explain how everything in our house works but they simply fall asleep. Then we just leave for our summerhouse and they turn in to bed.

From Canada Teun has rented a car that is ready for them at Schiphol. He immediately puts a Canadian flag on the aerial. He thinks this is the best way to be recognised. After a good night’s rest they are fit again and come over to our summerhouse in Grafhorst, a little north of Zwolle, for a visit. Fortunately it is not so warm anymore. After a couple of days we all go to Keukenhof, the most famous flower exhibition of The Netherlands, and enjoy the beautiful flowers in the hothouses and afterwards we go for a wonderful walk on the beach near the Langevelderslag in Noordwijkerhout. A true Dutch experience, we have to hold on to each other tightly so as not to be blown away. Father Teun and daughter Cora are very active during their stay here. They go on long cycling-tours. Over 30 miles a day is quite common. At seven in the morning they first go for a long walk and Cora loves it to explore Zwolle. In seven days she better knows her way about in Zwolle than we do in seven years.
They also visit relatives in Drenthe and the Achterhoek and they go on long cycling-tours over there as well. Teun can be recognised anywhere by his inseparable white hat. I believe he only takes it off when he goes to bed…! The inhabitants of our flat building of our flat building soon know that the hat and the flag belong together. ‘Oh, you have got visitors from Canada, that is bound to be the gentleman with the white hat’.

On Saturday, May 27, we have a very cosy afternoon

with about twenty Somsens in Erve Kots in Lievelde, a

well-known place for us. It stands to reason that there

is a lot of talk about the reunion of 1997. Each of

those present have their own ties with the Hunses

and even 93-year-old aunt Leni Somsen from Zel-

hem has come. After a couple of nice drinks we

conclude this afternoon with a tasty pancake. We

celebrated the 47th wedding-anniversary of Jo and

Teun on 30 May with a delicious dinner. And as

always, time goes by much too fast. Jo and Teun

are not in a position to visit all their relatives and

friends. They had a wonderful time and if health

permits they are bound to come back to The

Netherlands some day. On 7 June we said good-

bye to the Hunses who have become very dear to

us. The last night they are staying with friends in

Amstelveen before their return to Canada on 8 June.

We wish our second cousin and her husband,

children and grandchildren all the best and we are

looking forward to a next meeting On the beach: l-r: Dick [130], Jo [63],
Dikky [133] en Teun [68]