Sudha Narasimhachar tells us this charming story
of a wonderful woman she met while traveling in Canada.
Travel is indeed an eye-opener and teaches us a lot of things.
I meet many interesting personalities during every travel of mine.
Recently, when I visited my son in Calgary,
Canada, I was fortunate to see the mighty Rockies.
One of the many beautiful places that we visited there was Jasper,
where I got to meet this wonderful woman.
She amazed me more than the Rockies did!
Sometimes, when we watch some movies where the hero
or heroine is depicted as super-achievers fighting against
all kinds of odds in life, we make fun of the writer.
There is a limit! It seems too far away from the truth.
But when I met Ms. Annelies in Jasper,
truth seemed more exaggerated than fiction!
The 73-year-old Annelies Laggner runs the Austrian Haven, a Bed & Breakfast.
We were stunned at the way the home was maintained – spic and span,
tastefully decorated, well-furnished and maintained in a very orderly manner.
It was more than a five-star hotel accommodation.
But we were in for more surprise when we went up to meet Annelies.
“These drawings are very beautiful. Who is the artist?” I asked.
“These are my drawings.”“These furnishings are very tasteful.”
“Thank you. I designed them.”
My questions seemed to then form a life of their own.
She has worked with metal, wood, clay and anything you name.
Now, I knew this woman was no ordinary woman!
Annelies lives all alone in the house
and the B&B can accommodate up to eight at a time.
When we returned from our outing on the first evening,
she had cleaned up the entire house, made our beds, changed the towels,
replenished the stock of cereals, bread, butter, coffee,
tea, milk, and fruits for the next morning.
How long has she been running ‘Austrian Haven’? I ask.
“Last 13 years. Before that, I was an interior designer.”
She personally designs all the furnishings, upholstery, furniture,
art works, sculptures for
most of the hotels, chalets, restaurants, and inns in Jasper.
How long has she been in Jasper? How did she settle down there?
“I was born in Austria in 1943. My father died in
the Second World War and my mother remarried.
My stepfather abused me physically and mentally.
After high school and
three years in a special sewing and fashion designing college,
I got a job offer from the leading designing
company DIOR of Paris but my mother did not let me go.
Music and singing were the only things that kept me going all those years,
At 21, I married a friend whom I met in my music circle but though
he was a talented artist, he made some bad choices
which forced me to leave him.
I had two children – a son and a daughter and as per another friend’s suggestion,
I left for Canada in 1974 with my children,
one aged 3-and-a-half years and the other, eight months.
I landed here at his behest and married him,
but he turned out to be an alcoholic.
Enough was enough.
I decided to continue the journey on my own.
I worked and taught sewing, wood carving,
and crafts in Adult Education Classes.
I had been singing all my life in many European churches
and halls as a soloist and I joined the choir in Jasper.”
Annelies shuttled between Austria
and Jasper for a while, wanting her children to imbibe both cultures.
“I have designed almost 75 wedding gowns
and designed the interiors for many local hotels
and chalets, restaurants and inns.
I refinished antique furniture, did upholstery and artworks that I designed.
I took care of stitching, embroidering, painting,
sculpting, carving, and even the carpentry.
I believe in doing everything on my own and I love that.
I work for 15-16 hours a day and I am happy to see my efforts bearing fruits.
Do you see my house decorated for Thanksgiving though I live all alone?
I find pleasure in keeping my house
this way, though nobody may even come and see it!
There is nothing that I do not like.
I love cooking and baking.
I bake cakes and cook food for up to 75 friends
and neighbors who visit me during Christmas.”
Annelies, born with a single kidney, has survived ovarian cancer.
“My positive attitude helps me sail through.
I never think about the negative phases of my life.
My son lives about 300 miles away, while my daughter lives in Jasper.
I am a professional seamstress and during winter,
when the tourist inflow reduces, I set up my workshop.
I don’t whine or brood.”
Austrian Haven has a beautiful garden
and we were welcomed by beautiful blooms of all colors.
“Every July, there is a contest ‘Communities in Bloom’
conducted throughout Canada and this garden won
the first prize as the Best Residential Garden in 2013.
I love my plants and I take care of them like my own children.
Every winter they have to die and appear once again during spring.
But they never complain.
They adorn my garden with their lovely flowers
until their last day and die happily.
So, why should I be afraid of death?” says Annelies,
as she transfers the potted plants to her garage for the approaching winter.
And somewhere in the middle of all this, Annelies also takes cares of nine cats.
“You seem to be doing everything under the sun.
So, what have you not tried yet?”
I ask.
“Maybe smoking and boozing,” says Annelies cheerfully.
But her final words to me are what I remember.
“I took my first holiday when I turned 65. I am a workaholic. I love travel and would like to travel to distant lands at least now.”
It’s never too late to travel.