Dear Shirley,
The Norwegians among us are running rampant. Friday is Syttende mai, and they have been gathered for days at their lodge. There they have been peeling potatoes and rolling out lefse for their annual celebration Friday.
Today they are mixing whipped cream into the rice, frosting cakes, buttering bread and cleaning vegetables.
On Friday, they will be more than ready for the Syttende mai celebration in their lodge at 1401 Ninth Avenue, S. You know where that is, Shirley? It's over in that area behind the Italian Moon.
G. Paul Larson is president of Sons of Norway this year. He tells members that they should be flying the Norwegian flag Friday. This area is heavy with descendents of Norwegian settlers. They probably carry on traditions long forgotten in Norway.
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The sons and daughters of Norway won't have long to cool their heels after Syttende mai. They are involved in a folk dance workshop Saturday at the Grand Forks Senior Center.
Do they have Sons of Norway floating around Tucson, Shirley? Or has the great melting pot erased the nationality backgrounds we used to know so well?
I guess most all of your winter visitors have gone north by now. If you see any strays around, tell them the ice should soon be off Lake Bemidji.
It's fun to hear about people who have gone out from Grand Forks. Andrew Lander, son of Tom and Karen Lander, has a short speaking role right now in the movie "Ironman 3." And he is in a Dunkin' Donuts television commercial. He lives in Los Angeles.
He's acting. And he says that's his job. The road is rocky, but he is seeing some success. He credits that to theater classes at Red River High School and encouragement from Dean Opp, director of the Summer Performing Arts (SPA) program. He attended the University of Minnesota for a spell. Then he moved on to seek acting jobs in Los Angeles.
Another former resident has been in the news in California. Winter travelers brought back news about Harriet Talbert, who grew up in Grand Forks and graduated from UND.
She has been playing piano for the Redlands Kiwanis Club for 30 years. She has been honored as a "Hero of the Arts" by the Redlands Community Music Association. With her late husband, Mike Talbert, M.D., she moved to that area more than 50 years ago because of the Redlands Bowl entertainment center. And just recently she was honored as volunteer of the year for San Bernardino County.
Here in Grand Forks, we are big enough to turn out outstanding people, Shirley. Still, we are small enough to know and appreciate them.
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Love from your sister, Marilyn, walking Dot.Com, the dachshund, down Cottonwood Street on nice evenings in May.
Reach Marilyn Hagerty at mhagerty@gra.midco.net or by telephone at 701-772-1055.
