Traveling with 4 Moms

I love my Mom.  And I love my sisters who are Moms.  I love being married to a Mom.  I think being a Mom is one of the greatest endeavors of all time.

Having said that, traveling with 4 Moms is quite an adventure.  I’ve been asked countless times if I’m hungry, thirsty, tired, cold, hot, OK, confortable.  There are many discussions about how much food I’m eating, how much beer I’m drinking, am I tired, how did I sleep, do I have to pee, have I pooped, how was the poop.  (Sorry Erick – I know it’s one of your favorite topics.) 

All 4 women are willing to give up their seats, their food, their water, their coat, their clothes, their comfort for me.  I think if I asked they would chew some food for me and feed me with a spoon.  

Today we were driving in a van and someone asked if anyone was hungry – most said no – one Mom said she was a bit hungry and could use a snack.  We stopped – all 4 Moms got food and drinks and proceeded to repeatedly ask me if I wanted any of the snacks, any of the water, any of the juice, any of the candy, anything they might have.  I would say no thanks but then in response the Moms would say “are you sure”, “here, you should have some”, “please eat, you never know when you’ll get food next”, “eat it, eat it, eat it”, "you might be hungry".  So I succumb to the Mom barrage and eat, drink and enjoy. 

Deciding who rides in what seat in the van is also an interesting process.  I’m pretty sure they all 4 would sit in the back in the cargo area if they thought it was necessary.  Generally there is a natural process of determining who sits where – it just kind of happens – until one of the Moms asks “are you comfortable”, “do you want to sit in a different seat”, “should Gpa sit up front”, “no Sonia needs to sit there or she might throw up”, “OK everyone change seats”,  “is Jon driving”, “shouldn’t Marc drive”,… and finally we’re off.  Within about a mile there is another round, “are you OK”, “are you comfortable”, “do you need to change seats”, “is Jon OK driving”, “are you hungry”, “do you need to poop”.  It’s almost endless.

But isn’t that the point?  Remember, all you grandkids, future Moms (and Dads) – Moms will do anything for their kids or their siblings or their parents or generally anyone around them.  They are programmed to serve, help, support, care for, sacrifice.  

They are Moms – that’s what they do.

Thank you - Love you all.

Marc

Monday, July 6

Monday July 6th - To the Land of the Midnight Sun

We had the morning for last minute shopping then took the train to the airport to fly to the North country - the land of the midnight sun.  

Odd Reitevold, a 3rd cousin of the kids met us at the airport and after a bit of a glitch with Hertz, he was able to convince them to give us the van promised - 9 passenger- we set out for Ibestad.  

We drove for about 3 hrs, as we went by where Johanna lived before going to the home where Makcus lived until they came to America.  It was slow going much of the time, winding around the fjords and getting to a bridge and a tunnel to go from one island to another.  Very beautiful & lots of stories and info from Odd.  He was born & grew up in this area.  We had a delicious salmon dinner at the old house hosted by Odd's sister Nancy.  Odd's wife Ellen and another cousin, Halvard  were also there helping. 

 

At 11pm we decided it was time to sleep but it felt like 5pm.  The pictures following are from the flight over and leaving the home at 11pm. 

 Gpa Larry

Day 2 in Norway - a tour with Jan and Christian

We started the day with a long breakfast at the hotel - lots of great conversations and catching up - no talk of politics or religion (yet)!!  Gap, Marc and Joe we're first to breakfast - then Gma and finally the lazy girls decided it was time for some food.  

Jon's dorm-mate (Jan) from PLU lives in Oslo and was kind enough to be our guild (along with his son Christian) and it was great to have that local knowledge to show is the sites.  

We started at Holmenkollbakken ski jump on the outskirts of Oslo - it's a very old venue and the site of the 1952 Olympics -

 

great view of Oslo and fun to watch the zip liners make their run.

Here is a link for more info:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holmenkollbakken

Next we went to the Vigeland installation in Frogner Park - it's a park with 212 bronze and granite sculptures all designed by Gustav Vigeland and build from 1906 to 1947.  

It's an impressive site.

Here is a link for more: info:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frogner_Park#Vigeland_installation_.E2.80.93_the_sculptures_in_Frogner_Park

Probably my favorite stop was the Viking Ship Museum.  These are viking burial ships that were discovered over 100 years ago around Oslo - huge mounds were uncovered to reveal these ships.  I got a sense of what it must have been like to roam the North Sea seeking to conquer other villages, towns and counties.  They were some bad ass people and we all come from them!!!

More info:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viking_Ship_Museum_(Oslo)

And our last stop was dinner at Jan's summer home - great view of the fjord - great food - best strawberries ever and great new friends.  

  

Thanks so much to Jan and Christian for their hospitality.

Ok that's it for now - more about day 3 and it develops!!!

Marc

Sunday proved to be all we hoped for, and more.  Jan and son Christian picked us up noon and we first went to the ski jump in Oslo.  

Then to Vigeland sculpture park...

Then to the Viking Museum.

The to Jan and Merete's summer home in Drobak for a delicious dinner.  There home looks over the end of the Oslo Fjord which is where John & Johanna Dahlstrom left for America in 1858.

Our first night at dinner was a true hootenanny - lots of laughs and good conversations - mostly about all the grandkids and great-grand children. 

It was an international experience - in Oslo, eating Italian food with a Swedish waiter - Felix.  By the way, the restaurant was call Olivia's so now we're going to eat only at restaurants that have the grandchildren's names in it!!! We're looking for Panda's or Amy's Bistro or Alex's Pub - we'll find them!!!

Felix (our waiter) made our experience fun - he comes from a town in Sweden where Gpa's people came for so we all decided Felix was related and now he's coming to South Dakota to visit - or live, we don't know for sure.  Felix even brought us a sparkler to help us celebrate the 4th - he was fun.  

After dinner we wandered the streets of Oslo a bit - stopped at a "Norway" store - looked at Old City Hall.

Jon and I found a little bar and had a couple of beers and shot of Aquavit - mmmmm good.  Then off to bed for some sleep.  More tomorrow.  

Marc

Sat. July 4

All went well today.  Icelandair did what they promised...All arrived on time in Iceeland and continued on to Oslo without a hitch.  Of course we in FIRST CLASS because of such wonderful GRANDCHILDREN ate better than the rest, but they survived too.  Grandma had a Plate of Tapes and G'pa had   Duck legs a le Francaise.  With wine & Desert!  Then on the second leg we had a full breakfast.  Just a few hours after diner. Seats were comfortable...even got some sleep.  THANK YOU VERY MUCH or as they say in Norway, Manga Tusen Tak! (Many thousand thanks!). 

While the kids explored the area Connie & I met a distant relative of Connie's....2Cousin once removed.  Will add a picture of Aud.

Carolyn met us in true Norwegian style.

We are on the way. Minor glitches so far...Sarah forgot the lunch. ( she is off the island.) Larry lost a crown on a tooth. (He is crown less now.) Sonia forgot her pillow at Carolyn's and she had to bring it to the airport. (She's off the island too.)
We will meet Solveig and Marc in Iceland for the rest of our trip to Oslo.


A little toast to begin the journey!