My Nona Vinka

She was born in 1866 in Komiža.

This Nona's photo is a great proof of how tough, strong and determined woman she was.
She radiated health and energy.
At the time, life on the island was all but easy, and every day was a new struggle for a piece of bread. It was difficult for Vinka and Pavle, my granddad to raise eight children, especially for Nona who remained widow at the age of 52, when her youngest daughter Marija was only 11. With a great courage, determination and endurance, she set on the right track her four sons and four daughters.
She was a great woman, mother and Nona.

Pavao - Paul

Vinko - Vincent

Mate - Mathew

Toni - Anttony

The saga about this really successful family continued in distant America . Six children immigrated from Komiža, among them all four sons who knew how to apply Komiža's fishing heritage to the salmon fishing. The key moment was when the oldest Pavle became a part of American history with his record salmon catch in the Bering Sea . He was the first American fisherman who discovered how rich Aleut Islands were with salmon. He was given the name THE SALAMON KING, as government recognition for his accomplishments. In 1958, he was presented with the recognition by Eisenhower, the president of the United States .

That's why I have such a great respect and love for this house, named Nona's house. Every room, door, sound or shadow reminds me of those days gone by.

Do you remember the table I already mentioned.... I'll show you where I found it and what was the attic (the room on the first floor) like before I started redecorating it.

If you take a good look to the picture up left, you'll see that there is a table right to the window. It saw the daylight after a long time. I put it in the yard and walked around it. I was looking closely at it and was trying to figure out what to do with it. It was in a really bad condition.
And then the decision!
I asked myself: who am I, and who gave me right to judge, I'm not Pontius Pilate to sentence it to death. I'll reprieve it, and let it live for another few years.

I started working.
First, the old paint needed to be removed. While I was scraping it, my thoughts wandered miles away. I don't how long would have that lasted if a well-known coffee smell hadn't brought me back from daydreaming. It was only for a moment. I thought that someone had remembered of me, „worker“and made some coffee. I looked around, but there was no one, and the neighbors were too far to smell their coffee. I got back to work, disappointed a bit, and a bit worried for myself. It was probably my imagination.

I continued working, still thinking of that coffee, and then again the same smell. I tried to figure out where the smell came from. Was I hallucinating or going crazy, but the smell came from the table. Yes, from the table! I was heating the old layers of paint so that I could remove them easier, and I probably reached the layer where once somebody had spilled some coffee. I started to laugh and talk to the table, wondering what kind of story it was trying to tell me. It was probably gratitude for not destroying it or throwing it away, or something else, I'm not sure. However, I'm so sure that if someone had seen me in that moment would have definitely proclaimed me insane. Now I'm happy for keeping another part of my ancestors' history. And here it is, look for yourself how shiny it is.

There are many things I'd like to show you or tell about, but it would take too long.
This was just a short sketch to get to know us.
I would love to share with you all the joy and beauty of staying in Komiža.
Come and meet in person Nona's house.