Carried by a Magic Fan

In addition to being Estonia's longest serving Honorary Consul Jaak Treiman is a member of the Los Angeles Consular Corps' Executive Committee and past Board Chair of the U.S.-Baltic Foundation. While practicing law in Los Angeles, Treiman has also worked with nonprofit organizations in Somaliland and Afghanistan.

Table of Contents
Preface to the Estonian Edition
Preface to the English Edition
Introduction
 1. Mother's Time in Russia
"How my father managed to feed me is still a mystery."
 2. Upheavals
"All citizens … irrespective of their religion, ethnic origin, and political views, shall enjoy equal protection under the law and courts of justice."
 3. Mother's Childhood, Estonia in the 1920s
"Our sow and I had many conversations."
 4. My Father's Family
"Perhaps someday you will find this information of interest and be able to use it."
 5. A Brief Normality
"We savored the joy of living."
 6. Foreign Occupations
"Nothing in life remains constant…"
 7. Two Weddings and an Exit
"Alfred was a man of few words."
 8. Back and Forth
"I am left to speculate."
 9. Escape
"I heard the sound of guard dogs…"
10. A New Life: Joys and Worries
"Freedom is priceless. Living under dictatorial power destroys a person's life."
11. Uncertainty
"…it is Sweden's wish that refugees return to their homes."
12. New York
"I will jump ship at the first opportunity."
13. America to Australia
"The passport control people even wished us a good trip."
14. Australia—Getting Started
"We moved five times during our first year."
15. Australia—Settling In
"More Estonians are coming to Australia."
16. Leaving Australia
"Go? Of course! America."
17. Establishing New Roots
"We arrived in Los Angeles on … Thanksgiving Day."
18. Restarting Our Business
"Father had put the fingertip in his pocket …"
19. Bridging Generations and History
"Even if you don't see my parents' actual words, they are still present."
20. Lessons Learned—University
"Don't believe what we say in public."
21. In the Army
"An education in the logic of the illogical"
22. Baltic American Freedom League
"Unity brings strength."
23. The 1984 Los Angeles Olympics
"A little too political."
24. America's Nonrecognition Policy
"The people of the United States are opposed to predatory activities…"
25. Appointment as Honorary Consul
"I Can Always Quit."
26. Flying the Flag
"Subtlety was not his strong suit."
27. Visitors and Guests
"We were watching Estonia's rebirth."
28. Los Angeles Marathon: A Story in Four Parts
Part 1. Los Angeles Marathon 1987
"'Estonia' was spelled perfectly."
Part 2. Los Angeles Marathon 1988
"Please register me for the March 6, 1988, Los Angeles Marathon."
Part 3. Los Angeles Marathon 1989
"…our parallel universes met."
Part 4. Los Angeles Marathon 1990
Joy and Disappointment
29. Conversations with American Presidents
"Mr. President, we have taken way too much of your time."
30. Reconnecting with Family
"They were familiar strangers."
31. Independence Restored
"…these ends required new beginnings."
Epilogue
Further Readings
Index