ME

ANNA JESSEN NIELSON... I was almost born in the back of a taxi in Berkeley, California on September 25, 1950. My mother, Alla Vladamir Nielson, was a White Russian (not Red) and my father, Kenneth Alexander Nielson was a Danish Doctor / Surgeon. At birth, my hair was black, then blonde, then none, then dark blonde at age four. Those who know me are allowed to chuckle here. I haven’t changed have I?

MY FAMILY

GREAT-GRANDFATHER ~ UNDER TSAR NICHOLAS I ... Michael Povaroff was a high ranking officer in the Tsar's court in the mid-1800’s.

GRANDFATHER (DEDAH) ~ UNDER TSAR NICHOLAS II ~ ENGINEER OF TRANS-SIBERIAN RAILROAD ~ DESIGNER OF HYDRO-ELECTRIC DAMS IN THE USA

Vladamir Michael Povaroff (1889 - 1975) was a professor, engineer, economist and humanitarian. As a young engineer in the Court of Tsar Nicholas II, he worked on designs for the Trans-Siberia Railroads. In 1917, he heard dangerous rumors on campus that the Russian Revolution would overthrow the government. He took his wife and daughter, both named Anna, and fled for their lives. This was accomplished by escaping to China using the railroad he designed. His second daughter, my mother Alla, was born in middle of Siberia (Irtusk) on their way out of Russia. It took them 2 years, by railroad, to reach China.

He was a professor at the University of Shanghai - Engineering Department for 27 years. In the late '40s, the Japanese invaded China and the family was placed in a concentration camp in the Philippines. Before 1950 they were in San Francisco.

In San Francisco, Dedah was a prominent engineer and professor at the University of California-Berkeley. He was instrumental in complicated designs for numerous dams in the United States. Becase he was a respected member of the Russian community, his funeral in 1975 was attended by over 1,000 mourners.

GRANDMOTHER BABAH ~ RUSSIAN GOURMET CHEF... I was named after Anna Nicholas Sergef Povaroff (1904-1976). She raised me for 4 years and we spoke only Russian. She told me stories about her family left behind in Russia, presumably dead. Two of her brothers were Court musicians (violin and piano). The only person in her family who survived the Revolution was her sister who fled through Yugoslavia.

Babah was famous for over twenty years in the Russian community of San Francisco for her elegant dinners. My Mama, Alla, and I learned our Russian gourmet styles from Babah.

MAMA   ~   DADDY   ~    ME    (now ANYA JESSEN MONTGOMERY)

When I was four, Alla Vladimir Povaroff was re-married to Marvin Dwayne Montgomery, I was fully adopted, and my name was changed. Daddy was a U.S. Navy Commander and pilot.

Growing up as a Navy "brat", I traveled a lot and most often lived in wonderful sunny places near oceans. Daddy was raised on a farm in Independence, Kansas and always grew one-acre organic gardens wherever we were stationed (except when he was on the USS Independence aircraft carrier). Coupled with ingredients from all those organic gardens, Mama’s gourmet recipes and meals were supreme. In addition to organic flavors, because she grew up in Shanghai (27 years), our Mama-Chef added Chinese flavors too!

MY BROTHER ~ DOUG...

This recent photo is of my brother, Douglas James Montgomery, and me. Douglas resides on two acres in Florida with his loving wife Sandy. He has two children: Amy Nichole Montgomery and Douglas Dwayne Montgomery. My brother has a green thumb exactly like his father, Marvin. He grows plants so beautiful that they are picture-perfect.

Guess what else? Of course, he’s a gourmet Chef too! Since he’s into shoreline fishing, he's added to our family recipes, wonderful fresh seafood courses -- some cooked"Florida style" (corn meal).

MY CHRISTMAS PRESENT WAS MY DAUGHTER CHANEL...

I am blessed with one GORGEOUS daughter Chanel LeBlanc. She was born on Christmas Day, 1968, in Florida. After my divorce, we moved to Eugene, Oregon, because I wanted to attend college in one of the top ten national accounting departments. While raising her as a single mom for 13 years in Eugene, I consecutively did: College, CPA Exam, Quantum, Inc. (founder) and The Oregon Country Fair (officer).

Chanel was on the state diving, track and field teams. She also loved gymnastics, and here she is in the Eugene Register-Guard practicing Judo.

Chanel wore braces and I decided to wear them too... at age 30... and here I am in the Eugene Register-Guard in an article about mothers and daughters wearing braces together.

After Chanel graduated in 1986, she returned to Florida.

NEWEST LOVE ~ LANDON...

My grandson, Landon LeBlanc, was almost born on Christmas like his mom, Chanel. He joined the world a week earlier, on December the 18th, 1998. I had the great honor to live with him during his first six weeks of life. My pleasure was assisting the household while Mom and Dad maintained "regular?" schedules.

Landon is as smart a newborn as Chanel was - trust me - I have photos to prove this. He inherited a couple of my physical traits: shape of my fingers and hands, as well as a muscle line between his eyebrows (this is NOT a frown)! At week two he insisted on holding up his head at all times. I know he will have the Povaroff ~ heads-up ~ straight back ~ no slouching posture ~ that Chanel and I share.

In the six weeks I was with him he learned my voice from numerous Rudy-stories. Presently we communicate like that Sprint commercial where "even though Grandma is thousands of miles away..." love is communicated weekly through speakerphone.

RUDY KAZOODIE ~ My Pal... While I nannied Landon for six weeks, he listened to my stories of "The Brave Mr. Rudy". Born in Oregon with the name Baron Rudolf Montgomery, he was my companion for 14 years. David Paul added the "Kazoodie". He passed away in Hawaii in 1993. I still miss him.

HIGHLIGHTS OF MY LIFE IN HAWAII

And theses are our babies ~ Ala Girl, (named after my Mother), and Niki Boy (named after Hurricane Iniki).

These are the older children ~ a few years older ~ Chanel and Landon.

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