Back to the old country

This summer, we're traveling to Denmark to visit family. In a way, this trip wouldn't be possible if it wasn't for this man, my dad, Paul Erik Sloth, Sr.

Before he came to this country, and Americanized his name, he was Poul Erik Hoffmann Sloth.

My dad was born in Denmark in 1926 and came to this country as a young man of 22, in 1948. That year he said goodbye to his homeland, but never lost touch with his family there. He was a proud Dane and an even prouder American.

This summer, we'll meet the descendants of my dad's Danish family. It will be the first time that we've met most of them. Some, I met when I was younger. Kelsey and Zola have met my cousin, Erik, when he visited America in 2004.

For the most part, this is just an awesome trip. Who wouldn't love to spend three weeks in Europe, in the summer. We're really lucky to get to do it.

It's also an opportunity: to revisit the Denmark that I grew up loving and learning about; meet the family I have always known about, but never knew; and reestablish ties to the place where my dad was born.

Denmark has always been a special place to me. I can't wait to get back there.