Dear Shirley,
If you go outside and take a deep breath, you may be able to smell the lefse baking and riskem simmering here in Grand Forks. Yes, way down there in Tucson!
Those of Norwegian descent among us are cooking up their old-fashioned foods for the Syttende mai celebration. It’s here at the Sons of Norway Lodge beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday.
And it will run until the last crumb of the cream cake is gone. They call it blotkake. I was visiting with Else Rike about this, Shirley. She was born in Norway and came to this country - whether she wanted to or not - with her family.
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She was married to the late Art Rike, who was the Grand Forks County Sheriff. She worked for 50 years in the county treasurer’s office. She’s the mother of two and grandmother of four.
Well, she just turned 90. And she’s still going strong because Norwegians are tough people, Shirley.
She has a host of others with Norwegian background working along with her. They are a big loyal group headed by G. Paul Larson, the lodge president. He tells me lunch will be served from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday with goodies and coffee between 2 and 4 p.m. when everything is a la carte.
Each year on what is regarded as Norwegian Independence Day, we are reminded of the Norwegians whose ancestors chose this area. They are having a Syttende mai lunch over in Northwood Saturday. And the people in Thief River Falls have come up with Norwegian Heritage Week with something going on every day. Today there’s an open house at Northern State Bank. And cultural arts will be shown Saturdayafternoon at the Thief River Care Center.
All I can say is “uff da.”
Judy Rae
I had a note from Judy Rae Smith who is back in Arizona. She came back to Grand Forks to showcase her former dance students at the spring recital of Dance etc! here.
She said, “The whole weekend and Friday evening was magical. It will live in our hearts forever.”
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Well, there is something almost magical about spring - even though spring has been so reluctant to settle in. When people talk about how grim it has been here, I like to remind them that sounds like the pot calling the kettle black.
You see, Shirley, there are reports of bad weather popping up from all over the globe.
Love from your sister Marilyn, thawing out slowly and eating a Mr. Goodbar on the left bank of the Red River of the North.
P.S. Remember when I was telling you about the fourth grade students who wrote winning essays about their favorite older people? Well, it’s Monday when Mayor Mike Brown has invited them to share their essays at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall.
I was just re-reading some of the winning remarks and am amused by the description of Grandpa Dave by Chris Sinkevich of South Point School. He wrote, “He may be old but he remembers everything. He helps me and other kids at school. And he NEVER hurts your feelings.
“That is the reason I like him.”
