In 2001, we had a family reunion in America, at brother Koos and Nancy’s home in Dorr, Michigan. Cousin Gerrit (of Pilke and His) traveled there together. Gerrit kept a diary. Below is his story.
Thursday, July 12, 2001.
Woke up early, of course, getting out of bed at 7:30 AM. Packed my suitcase calmly. Had a sandwich and took the 9:58 AM train to Groningen. The train to Schiphol left Groningen at 10:18 AM. Transferred in Amersfoort at 12:00 PM and arrived at Schiphol at 12:40 PM.
Found Rudy via our mobile phones, and together we went to check in at desk 19. There, a staff member asked if we would voluntarily like to take another flight, as Kuwait was fully booked! The offer was a compensation of F625. We could fly to Detroit instead of Chicago. Rudy also arranged the connecting flight to Grand Rapids!
Departure at 7:10 PM, took off, and we arrived in Detroit at 8:52 PM Dutch time. USA time 2:52 PM. We tried to catch the 9:30 PM flight to Grand Rapids. Unfortunately, the luggage couldn’t be transferred immediately; we tried at the desk, but the girl was grumpy (I told Rudy she must be on her period). So the flight was at 10:55 PM. From Detroit to Grand Rapids took 21 minutes.
Wim and Jan were already waiting for us, and in the car, they had a glass of whiskey ready for us! After about half an hour, we arrived at their house around midnight. I think we went to bed around 1:30 AM. We were incredibly well received. Wim and Jan are very kind to us and make sure we’re having a great time. Very hospitable and, of course, plenty of drinks!
Friday, July 13, 2002.
I woke up at 7:00 AM, so no sleeping in! By 8:00 AM, we were already on the terrace with a view of Gunlake, sipping coffee. Around 9:30, we headed to the boat on the other side of the lake for breakfast. But first, a “Bloody Mary” (tomato juice with vodka) for the boat ride. At the little restaurant “Circle Inn,” American breakfast with fried eggs and bacon! Wim felt a bit dizzy from the vodka so early in the morning. In the afternoon, we went back on the lake, with a cooler full of snacks and drinks, enjoying the sun, also cruising through channels with beautiful houses. Wim and Jan also live here quite nicely. The weather was amazing! Koos was with the guys Alex and Steve. From the Netherlands, Boukje and Johan were chatting cheerfully on the terrace with their three boys. When Koos left (he had to go to bed early), we took the boat to the pizzeria. We ate pizza on the boat while Boukje and Johan’s boys went swimming. The water isn’t deep, about 1 meter, but there are spots that are 10-12 meters deep. After a good drink on the terrace, it was time for bed.
Saturday, July 14, 2002
Had a good night’s sleep but woke up at 6:00 AM and managed to doze off again until 8:00 AM.
Large cups of coffee! After a quick shower, we drove to Hickory Corner, an old place from the 1950s. Breakfast included eggs, a delicious “Denver” omelet. Ice water is always served alongside. Next door was an antique shop. Jan and I wandered through the store, looking at various items like cups, vases, etc. I bought a beautiful paperweight for $10 plus 60 cents tax. (Note t2025: it was the first of my collection, and I now have nearly 100!)
At 12:30 PM, we headed to Koos and Nancy’s house. The reunion took place in the garden, with snacks and drinks in a large barn. There were many cousins present. I spoke with Uncle Auke, Aunt Anita, Klaas, and Annie. At 5:00 PM, a lavish buffet was served with plenty of cold drinks. We stayed until 9:00 PM and took many photos. The roll was quickly full, so I rushed to the store for a new one. It turned out to be a beautiful day. I managed quite well with my 2 years of ULO English. After a nightcap, we went to bed at 10:30 PM.
During the drive, I heard various anecdotes. About the Schoonveld brothers on Coendersweg in Helpman. A big fire in the reed fields, with the fire brigade and all that. When they got home, Uncle Jo already knew about it and was waiting for the boys! A friend of Jo had already spotted the boys with binoculars.
Sunday, July 15, 2002
Up early again! Showered, shaved, and dressed by 8:15 AM. Getting ready to go to church where Uncle Auke will preach at 10:00 AM in the church where the pastor used to be, Ivanrest Church. The church was full, with around 30 family members present. Lisa, Teena’s daughter, sang during the service. Uncle Auke gave a sermon about Matthew 25 (the talents, what do you do with them). The way he preached really appealed to me. He didn’t stand on the pulpit but walked back and forth on stage with great expression. After the service, we had coffee outside. All the family members were chatting happily together. Then at 12:00 PM, we went back to Wim’s house. It was a lazy day sitting on the terrace, enjoying the sun. Wim and Jan were preparing dinner for us. I could already smell the garlic. Thick cuts of meat were on the grill. “Yes,” said Wim, “now we’re going to have something good to eat again.” After dinner, we all went out on the boat and even went swimming; the water was nice and warm at 22 degrees. At 6:00 PM, we packed our bags and loaded them into Wim’s truck to go to Koos and Nancy’s house. Along the way, we took photos of the homes where Klaas and Annie and Jo and Fokje lived, including the house where Faith’s parents lived. At 7:30 PM, we first visited Klaas and Annie. Rudy asked Uncle Klaas many questions about the past and wrote some things down. A daughter of Teena, Lisa, lives with Klaas and Annie. She studies on the other side of the city to reduce her travel time. At 10:00 PM, we headed to Koos and Nancy’s in the dark. Boukje and Johan were there with their three children. It was late again; we went to bed at 1:30 AM. The whisky doesn’t taste the same as it does back in the Netherlands.
Monday, July 16, 2002
Now at Koos and Nancy’s home, I got up fairly early at 8:00 AM. After coffee, we went to see the new house they are having built. They will be moving in three weeks, so we also got to work! Jan and Rudy were sanding the walls while I worked with Koos to sand and varnish oak trim. It’s going to be a beautiful functional house. A workshop has been designed to hold a large sailboat of 12 meters long. The workshop is very high. The house sits on a large piece of land on a hill, overlooking a marsh and a patch of forest (about 3-4 hectares). At 2:00 PM, we returned to their house, freshened up, and drove to Michigan Lake. Koos’s boat wasn’t in the water this year, but he has a friend who rents boats. We took one of those boats out on the lake, a sailboat. Unfortunately, there was no breeze. After an hour and a half, we headed back. We ate at a restaurant on the dock. The village is called Saugatuck and is known for its gay community! You could definitely see that in the waitstaff. Back at the house, we had some drinks, as much as you want! Beer or lemonade with whiskey. Cousin Piet and Jellie called. They live in Oregon, and I also spoke with him. Not too late to bed because Koos has to get up early!
Tuesday, July 17, 2002.
Very early at 6:30 AM, because Koos has to go to work early. This morning, we visited Teena and Klaas and Annie’s daughter. She invited us to the reunion. We said we would come to you. After having coffee, we walked a few miles, a bit of exercise after sitting and eating too much. So, we went for coffee with Teena and her homemade cake (delicious). Uncle Klaas also came. We all went to her husband Don’s factory. We saw everything; Don designs and makes machines used in barns, the so-called “scrapers.” With these, you can scrape away manure behind the cows and spread fresh sawdust, etc. See the brochure. At half past twelve, we had lunch in a typical American diner. Soup (chili), baked beans, and salad (I took too much). Then came the much-anticipated ride to a mall. A beautiful new shopping center! Teena loves shopping; we had a beer together and bought a gift. I bought something for the boys in Chicago. We took the pick-up to say goodbye to Koos and Nancy and then went to Wim and Jan’s home. Dinner on the terrace, and then off to bed by 11:00 PM.
Wednesday, July 18, 2025
This morning I woke up early at 6:00 AM, had a quick shower, coffee, and packed my things. Said goodbye to Jan, a very lovely woman! Wim drove us to the train station in Grand Rapids. The Amtrak train departs at 7:40 AM. Honking through all the towns and crossings. Breakfast in the dining car of the train. Enjoying the landscape. What a vast country!
Just before 10:30 AM, we arrived at Union Station Chicago. Alex and Lysbeth (Terpstra) were already waiting with the car and drove us very professionally to Auke and Anita’s house. They live beautifully in an old three-story house with three bathrooms and a toilet. Also at the house were Anita and her daughter René (of Sjouk). Lysbeth with her daughter Lara. Alex came with his girlfriend Joarna. After getting to know each other, we took the subway to downtown Chicago. We went to the Hancock Building. We took the elevator to the 95th floor, which took only 50 seconds! Had a Heineken beer and took photos of the city. I went to the aquarium with Alex and Joarna, it was amazing! Then we returned to the others who were waiting in the Hancock Building. Bought a few gifts. A T-shirt for Thomas and some shot glasses. At the ladies’ request, Rudy and I decided to cook. We went with Lysbeth in the car to a supermarket; she drives very well in the city! Bought groceries with a bottle of wine. Rudy made a casserole while I prepared various salads. Everyone was deeply impressed, as if they were dining out; they all found it very delicious. In the evening on the porch, a couple of people played hearts while I watched. I went to bed at 1:00 AM. After a break at 5:00 AM, I managed to doze off again until 7:30 AM.
Thursday, July 19, 2002
The coffee was ready. We walked to the Ukrainian village for a stroll. It’s a distinct block of neat homes surrounded by plenty of greenery. There are two beautiful churches. We bought delicious rolls at a bakery for our coffee. It was further than we expected, and I could see the cornfields. We took the bus (CTA) part of the way back. Once home, we had coffee, then tidied up, and at 12:30, the “Terpstra” family took us to the metro. Rudy and I got off in Monroe and walked through the city to the Museum of Radio and Broadcasting, featuring lovely little tube radios. We walked to the large fountain in the park; it was too hot there. After that, we took a ride on The Elevator, a kind of metro but above ground on a steel framework, which went over the so-called Loop. We transferred and headed to Erik’s house. We had a drink and then took the metro to O’Hare Airport. After an hour, we arrived at the airport at 5:30 pm, taking the (automated) tram to the international terminal. Check-in took quite a while; at 7:00 pm, we quickly bought some gifts for the boys. At 8:00 pm, we were on board flight KU116, and at 9:00 pm, we were in the air. Dinner will be served soon, with a choice of chicken or lamb. Unfortunately, only chicken was available, which could have been better. We set our watches to Dutch time.
At 3:10 am, I had a good amount of sleep and did some reading. The view of Canada in the dark was stunning. Over England, it was light again, and I could see the cornfields. We landed at 12:10 pm. Willy was already waiting for us at the exit. I said goodbye to my buddy Rudy. We took the 12:53 train towards Enschede. We switched trains in Amersfoort at 1:45 pm heading for Groningen, then transferred to Martenshoek, arriving at 3:35 pm.
Thomas and Geesje picked me up from the station. Thomas was very curious about his gift – an American school bus with various tunes and the numbers 1, 2, 3, and the letters a, b, c. He loved it and immediately put on his T-shirt. The ladies were also very pleased with their gifts, various scented products with bags.