Musicians of the 60s? I've always known my dad was a very good musician (i.e. singing and playing guitar), and I've always known he was a great big fan of the Beatles. Here in suit and tie and screaming(singing?), my dad is playing the drums. I wonder what the inspiration was...

I can see the similarities, but I guess they didn't get quite "there". 60s teenagers with their hopes and dreams of becoming a Beatle... But no one ever really did. Apparantly the greatest wish my father had was to meet Paul McCartney. He never saw them live, and I am pretty certain he never met any of them either, so when I saw Sir Paul in London last year, it really broke my heart in a way. I didn't want to be one of the screaming, crying beatlemaniacs, but I couldn't help myself sometimes. I think it was only when Paul and his band performed Can't Buy Me Love I realised who I was watching. It was amazing. I started to cry. So The Beatles still lives on.

The point of this was really just to point out that my family have many musicians in it. Both on my mothers side and my fathers side. I know some can play the fiddle(or violin, I guess), and some can play the piano. Some play guitar and some play the trumpet. Whilst all of them sing (more detailed information when I know more). Last year my sister and I performed in my older sisters, Othilie, tenth wedding anniversary. We played mostly Beatles, and it was amazing when all the sisters were singing together.

The Burdal sisters. Not quite the same dress code as The Beatles, but close enough.
"Be mine, sister salvation.
Juke joint jezebel is coming for my cremation.
Be mine, sister salvation.
Closer now, see the revelation."
- KMFDM

I have hit a dead end. My name, Burdal, only seem to go back to my great grandpa, Petter Burdal, born in 1876. Why is that? That is only four generations (five if you count my nieces and nephew). I thought that was a bit weird, but I suppose it is possible. My theories now is that my great grandpa, Petter, got his name from where he was from. A farm or a small area or something like that. The problem with this theory, is that there is farms called Burdal, but I can't seem to make a connection between the farm and us. Another problem I am facing is the spelling of the name. Was it really spelt "Burdal"? Or could it be "Burdahl", "Berdal", "Burdall", "Bordal" or "Børdal"?. The name must in a way have been fexible, seen as my grand uncle (mye grandpas brother), was called Erling Burdahl.

I have one lead... apparently the name Nils and Petter was used every other time(how inventive, and grandpa just decided to ruin the cycle by calling my father Nils Petter). I don't know how far back this cycle went... But after following this lead, I might have found Petter's parents. But they might also be Agnes' parents(I think I am overcomplicating things). I will try to explain... In a digital archive (http://www.arkivverket.no/arkivverket/Digitalarkivet/), I have found the name Aksel Burdal, born in 1905, twice. Aksel was Nils' brother. The name was registered twice in the 1910 cencus. Why? Because he was visiting his grandparents when they came round to count their household. The father in this household is called Nils. Coincidence?

To try and figure this problem out in a better way, I have contacted my older sister. She didn't know, but possibly knew someone who might know (this is complicated, I know). Another thing I have done, is that I have found a cousin of my father. He is still alive! So I have written him a letter where I included some questions and pictures. I really hope he has some answers for me.

The picture above is my grandfather, Nils. Now tell me, Nils, "who's yo daddy?"

I have always been very curious about my past. Mainly because I don't know much about it. My dad died when I was only nine, to which has led me into an unknowing state. Unknowing about who my family on his side actually were. What were their names? Where did they come from? When were they born? I have of course also wondered what their personality were like, but that is an issue I will struggle far more to figure out.

Seen as my mother is still alive, and her father as well, I have learned a lot more about that side of the family than my father. I appreciate the times I have sat down to talk to them both about our family. Both my mom and my grandpa know so much, and have so many stories to share. Unfortunately, neither of them knew any of the people in my fathers family, not even his parents.

My grandparents on my fathers side are called Else and Nils, so I will refer to them as that. And my mothers parents are called Odd and Ingrid.

After talking to my older sister (born in 1974) on my fathers side, I have learned a bit more about Else. She was a beautiful, but apparently very strickt woman. My sister told me Else worked as a hat model. My dad inherited all her belongings when she died (simply because he was her only child). Her stuff was very posh. She liked finer things. Nice jewellery, pictures and china. Our house was practically decorated by her after she died. And it has been that way since about 1994 until today. The picture under is of her.

Else married Nils. I am not sure what his occupation was. But I know that he worked at the same place for 25 years, because I found lots of letters were friends and colleagues congratulated him. Another thing I know about him is that one of his brothers emigrated to America and settled down in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I have found letters written in the 30s and 40s.

Nils died in 1956, of a heart attack. Apparently he was on his way to work. My father was only nine. When I heard this story, I think my heart must have skipped a beat. Where have I heard this story before? I have actually been through the exact thing myself, when my father died of a heart attack, on his way to work. I was only nine.

Else remarried. This time to a pharmacist. According to my older sisters grandma, everybody knew who this couple was. And they were the greatest couple in the city. I kind of like the idea of that, because it was so different back then. If someone asked me today "who is the greatest couple in the city you're from?", I would ask "what on earth are you talking about?"

Anyway, this was only a little bit of what I know so far. Will write more some other day, in order to make this post a bit shorter. Hope you enjoyed it.