Celebrate the Small Things: I'm in a Norwegian Mood

Vince and I have been enjoying a TV series called Lilyhammer on Netflix. Frank, a former Italian mafia boss from New York, is put in the Witness Protection Program and sent to Lillehammer, Norway of all places. He opens up a nightclub, and befriends and swindles just about everyone he meets. The script is in English and Norwegian (with subtitles), so you really have to pay attention, but the dialogue is really funny. The humor is for adults only and offbeat. We have been laughing a lot lately at this kooky series. I've been told that Norwegians are enjoying it too. 

So, I guess you could say I'm in a Norwegian mood today. It really started yesterday when I received an undelivered Christmas card in the mail from Rorvik, Norway. I'm half Norwegian on my mother's side, and I had forgotten that one of my relatives is in a nursing home now. I spent the day wishing I could see everyone again. 

In May 2008, my sister, mother and I met our relatives for the first time in Norway. We flew to Oslo, and celebrated Norway's famous Constitution Day with our family there. 

Constitution Day, Oslo, Norway 2008

Our handsome family in Oslo, Norway 2008 (Everyone dresses up for the holiday)

We took a train to Trondheim..... 

(Beautiful Trondheim, Norway in May 2008)

.....where relatives traveled and gathered to give us a warm welcome, and treated us to a lovely dinner we will never forget. 

(That's me peeking from behind in the middle, mother in front and sister in red)

From there we traveled north by car..... 

(A Norwegian horse along the road)

To Rorvik, Norway....

Rorvik, Norway. A statue in memory of all the women who
faithfully waited for their men to return from sea.

My sister asked the question, "So are we Viking women?" Our cousin Haldis just grinned. "Oh yes, you are Viking women!"  We were pretty pumped after that!

Outside of Rorvik, we traveled to where my grandfather was born and raised. We saw the home where he lived..... 

Grandpa's boyhood home

We saw his mother Oline's spinning wheel....

And the family land where he played as a boy.....

Just wanted to share my Norwegian side. Looking back on that visit, it almost feels like a dream now. My grandfather was the only son (there were five boys) to immigrate to America. Meeting our family was a lifelong dream come true. 

Next week is the big April A to Z blog hop, so I will be dropping out of the 'Celebrate' posts for the month. I know some of you are in the A to Z too, so I hope to see you then. 

Happy Weekend Everyone!!

'Celebrate the Small Things' was started by Viklit at Scribblings of An Aspiring Author. Sign up below. Meet some terrific bloggers! 

Sharon M. Himsl

Writer/Author. Blogging since 2011. 
Published with Evernight Teen: 
~~The Shells of Mersing

Walking Dead Fans, Which Character Are You?

Here is a fun diversion to break up your day. Take Zimbio's quiz and find out your character type. I'm Carol. Who are you? 

http://www.zimbio.com/quiz/cSHb9pVhQDp/Walking+Dead+Character

Sharon M. Himsl

Writer/Author. Blogging since 2011. 
Published with Evernight Teen: 
~~The Shells of Mersing