Now and then...yesterday and today...
I got a really nice letter from Norway
today and in it was a couple of interesting comparisons. In my
previous letter to Inger I spoke about my family members coming to
Chicago for the weekend in early March to help us. We had an old
fashion ”painting party”. We ate lots of good food and worked
our tails off painting several rooms. We laughed so hard and had so
much fun reminiscing about our childhood. We talked about events
that we have not talked about in many years. They were things we did
together, the things we did TO each other and what we remember. Each
of us have our own vivid memories and we discovered that some of my
vivid memories are not memorable to my other sisters at all and vice
verse. We also discovered that each of us has slightly or widely
different memories of the same event! We talked about the need to
putting some of these memories on paper for future generations to
read. I think this is a really good idea so will start to do that
soon. When I do, I will put them here on the blog too.
I described the gathering in Chicago
to Inger as an “Amish Barn Raising” and she understood what I was
talking about. Sometimes I wonder if she will understand what I am
trying to tell her. She is a very smart lady so I should not wonder
but I do. We, Americans, assume that everyone in the world
understand our customs, culture (or lack of), our slang, our ideals
and the way in which we live but the reality is that we are not the
only place in the world!!! We are only ONE country on this earth! And
America is not as important to other as it is to us. It has been so
nice for me to learn about Norway and it's customs, culture, and food
from this special family member who I have met through the internet.
Inger goes on to tell me “ We
have a word in Norwegian for this: DUGNAD.
Coming
together, family, friends , neighbors etc. work and finish a project
together without getting paid and eat and have a good time. This is
a tradition still in Norway. So you have organized a dugnad.
“ The truth is we enjoyed our dugnad
in March so much we have scheduled another for the first weekend in
May!
Inger
also shared with me another comparison. Last year when we met, I sent
Inger some copies of post cards which my Grandfather received from
our family in Norway beginning with this card from his Grandmother
in 1908. If you have been following me you have already seen it in
several blogs...
Grimestad 1908 - Then
Recently
Inger and her friend, Henrik spent several hours on a sunny warm
March day taking photos. These photos show comparisons of “now”
and “then”. They have old photos of these locations and they are
taking new photos of the same location. She surprised me with this
wonderful photo!
2012
Grimstad – Now......
Wow!
It gives me goosebumps! I love it!
Enjoy! Jan
