Paolina and Ake Viking were married in Sicily in the autumn of 1958, thanks to a far-traveling bottle. Two years earlier Ake, a bored young Swedish sailor on a ship far out at sea, had dropped a bottle overboard with a message asking any pretty girl who found it to write. Paolina's father, a Sicilian fisherman, picked it up and passed it to his daughter for a joke. Continuing the joke, Paolina sent off a note to the young sailor. The correspondence quickly grew warmer. Ake visited Sicily, and the marriage soon followed their first meeting.
The tale was widely reported in the news back in the late 1950s. A 1959 article in The American Weekly titled "Love in a Bottle" told the story in more detail and actually included a few pictures of the happy couple, in one of which (shown above) they were posing at the spot where she found the bottle. Here's the text of the American Weekly article:
Ake, a Swedish sailor, relieved his tedium at sea one day in 1955 by writing a letter. "To Someone'Beautiful and Far Away," he poetically inscribed it. After giving his home address and a brief description of himself, he added, "Write to me, whoever you are," and signed his name. With that, he tucked the paper into an empty bottle of aqua vitae, replaced its cork and tossed it overboard. Two years went by. Then, on his return from another voyage, he found a letter, postmarked Syracuse, Sicily. The message was in Italian, which one of his shipmates obligingly translated. It was from a 17-year-old girl, who wrote: "Last Tuesday, I found a bottle on the shore. Inside was a piece of paper, bearing writing in a strange language. I took it to our priest, who is a great scholar. He said the language was Swedish and, with the help of a dictionary, he read me your charming letter. I am not beautiful, but it seems so miraculous that this little bottle should have traveled so far and long to reach me that I must send you an answer ..." Other letters, consigned to ordinary post, followed the first two. Photographs were exchanged and, finally, vows. Ake set sail for Syracuse and now, together, he and his pretty, if not beautiful, correspondent, who has just turned 18, are embarked on the sea of matrimony.
Its touching and a sweet thing to read. :)
love, bernie
4:16 AM
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You guys may wanna watch. Britain Next Top model ! Another new series of top models ! Gny introduce it to me. enjoy watching it ! prelims is in few days time so im on hiatus.
love, bernie
2:08 AM
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
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You are my best friend through thick and thin. You are the bestest friend that i can have.
You are there for me when i need you the most. You cheer me up when i am down. If i am about to cry u make me smile. You are my bestest friend and its not a lie.
You listen to me and give me advice, advice that comes straight from the bottom of your precious heart. You are my best friend in the world and i couldn't ask God for a little bit more.
We are going to grow older, and things will change but our Friendship will forever still remain. I'll make new friends but that won't change because you will always be my best friend.
I'd like to mean as much to you as you mean to me. I'd like to be some help to you as you have been to me. I'd like to know that as we grow old, our lives will change but that our Friendship will still remain.
Me and you will never be apart maybe in distance but never in heart for our friendship is way to strong to let it go off just like that.
All i can say is that you are my best friend and i swear to God that i don't want it to change.
I maybe at a different place in future but that doesn't mean that our friendship will end, because you will Always be my best friend.
No matter what life has destined for us I know that our friendship will never die.
your best friend ever, bernie
1:18 AM
Monday, August 13, 2007
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I change my blogskin again ! thanks to kernie ! anyway i scored an A for my O lvl Mt paper. Im so happy. I think im gonna smile and sleep tonight ! my dad's calling, i gotta go.
p.s. love you girl
be back soon, bernie
8:15 AM
Saturday, August 11, 2007
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There never was a bright day Why? Always gloomy
As if torrid rain clouds had taken over the sky I sit to write to you but nothing comes Through nights and nights my heart fondly recalls Of the time we spent together Good or bad things that were ever said or done I try to remember
When your heart turned Away from me When the weather changed From a warm evening breeze To freezing rain
My heart breaks into pieces Bringing me down to my knees
As tears flow freely down Like autumn leaves Forgotten Not daring to scream out loud Confusion, pain, and sorrow Seem to be my only companions
These feelings I hid Though in this life they seem to be All that is left But I still hope You will erase The reason why you felt the need
To leave me behind to face this harsh world on my own
Many things happen this few days. That's the reason why i cant online and blog. But thanks to those who concern. Due to my previous post, if there is anything, anyone of you is unhappy, you may come and tell me. I wont mind. Prelim is in few weeks time. Pray hard to all gods. And lastly, tmr will be the release of O lvl Mt results. All the best to you guys. I will pray hard for you guys too. And world championhips is tmr, i get to see KKBH again. I have no mood to continue anymore. But at least,Im alright and happy ! See ya tmr in school. One more thing again, Im pretty lazy to post some pictures on the performance ( so sorry). You guys may wanna go my sis, Beverly's blog . Its interesting.
P.S maybe my sis is right, i shouldnt blog often. She keep reminding me that my prelims and Os are around the corner. So i will listen to her then (maybe)
gotta go,
bernie
8:55 PM
Saturday, August 04, 2007
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Change
I anticipated some change, From this mundane, pointless existence, A change, for the better, I will have a lot on my mind, So much to do, Or so I thought. Even with all the countless forms of amusement At my disposal, I still can't while away my time Still can't gratify my weary mind, Alas! It is company I long for ... Company of like-minded people, With an equal degree of craziness, all who seem to be far away, out of reach, Looks like I just have to count the days, When we'll meet up again, Or till we change upon each other,Wonder when will that be ?
This few days i was pretty busy again. The same stuffs, work and people ! One think to say 'Im sorry i cant post the racial harmony pics. Cos i didn get all of them. If i pose some, the others will come & ask why i didn post the theirs' So too bad. But it was quite fun on that day. Im a reddie girl !
I've just got the prelim time table, which means i have to start my planning again. Samuel said im hardworking, but i dont think so. Maybe i should work harder ! Okay, studies should go aside for today ! Cos tmr will be the performing day !! Im gonna be very nervous. Bonnie, Beverly and I have to sing infront 400 people. I do hope i wont be trembling when im singing. I need some backup from the two of them =) We're performing for an association (i think). Some sort like Hakka of whatever. Im not so entu but Bonnie is. She's looking for K.C:) Im gonna dress in black and white. Angel and devil day. Tmr will be a very busy day. Practicing for the singin, preparing our clothing, going saloon, making up & lots of the girls stuff ! That's what girls always do !
For 'your' information, im really single ! please dont bother Gny. She is so angry. If you're the next one to ask her again, i bet she will kill me. haha. Cool down Ginny !!
Ps. I will try to post the pics from the performance.