Three Suitcases and a Three Year Old

by Ann Mihkelson

'Three Suitcases and a Three Year Old' is an optimistic account of how, out of tragedy, identity can be recalimed. It is one woman's story of emotion and love, a scientist's story of observation and analysis, and a storyof how anyone can find their way home at the most unexpected times and to places that may have only existed in the imagination and the heart. Ann Mihkelson's parent's fled their homeland of Estonia at the end of the Second World War, just days before the Soviets made any escape impossible. Ann, their only child, was born in Sweden. When she was three, the family left for Australia and a life far from Estonia and the past. An Australian childhood spent in tropical and outback Queensland in the 1950s, and in Sydney in the 1960s was set against her parents' tales of the country they left behind. Ann Mihkelson's heritage slipped into the background as she pursued a successful career in science and education until death took away her loved ones. including, unexpectedly, her husband. Struck by grief, alone, and with the connections of the past slipping away, Ann searched for her roots. Seeking answers, she visited her parents' homeland and relatives for the first time. There she came to understand their story, and through it, her own.

248 pages, Paperback

First published June 30, 1999

Reviews

[Ruth Bonetti · Rating 4 out of 5]

This memoir spans a family's life experiences from Estonia to north and west Queensland (Mt Isa), Sydney with a visit to Sweden, Finland, London and Spain. Though not of such immediate refugee status, I could relate to many of the author's experiences. At times a tighter edit might have prevented attention attention lag/ But hold in there for the final chapters when Mikhelson bares her angst as a migrant losing her parents, with no other family; her all too brief marriage; her return to Estonia to be welcomed by family.
For these last chapters, I upped my original three stars to four.

[Diego Atterbury · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyable. Challenged the mind and my understanding of displacement. Re-emphasised how fortunate we are to live in Australia despite the perceived challenges. Thanks Ann.