The Adventure Begins!

Sylvia and Kay - June 12, 2015

     The adventure really began with trips to visit relatives in Norway by my Great-Great Aunt Margretha in 1908, my Great-Great Grandparents Andrew & Bryngelana Jacobson also in 1908, and my Great Grandfather Joseph Marvik in 1913 with the St. Olaf Choir.  Thus, the pilgrimage to Norway was started for generations to come.  Grandpa Alfred and Grandma Anna went in 1962 and my parents' first trip was in 1970.  My first trip was in 1971 when I studied at the University of Oslo International Summer School.  The value of this international experience led me to create a student teaching program in Rosendal for Iowa State University in 2001.

    Mother and I have traveled to Norway four times together - three while I was in Rosendal for the student teaching program and one for the 2010 Ames Children's Choir tour.  On the tour, Mother accompanied the choir with her violin on Bach's "Mein Freund its mein" from Cantata 140 and played Ole Bull's "Saeterjentens Sondag" at the Ole Bull Villa on the island of Lysoen for Bull's 200th anniversary.

       For several years, Mother and I had talked about one last trip to Norway together to see our dear friends and relatives and to go on the Hurtigruten coastal voyage as Grandpa Alfred and Grandma Anna had done in 1962.  Since we had planned for the special celebration of Mom & Dad's 70th wedding anniversary to occur in June 2014, we had to postpone our Norway trip until 2015.  In May 2014, I put down the deposit for the Hurtigruten voyage on the Kong Harald for June 30-July 11, 2015.  After talking with the relatives when I was in Rosendal last November for the student teaching program, the rest of the trip was organized.  Plane tickets were purchased in December and we were on our way!

     I made a quick trip to Iowa last weekend to see Elinor and all of my 'antique friends' in West Des Moines including a couple from Texas.  After 32 years, Elinor & Dick were closing their shop and I had to be part of it.  Mother introduced me to Elinor's Wood 'n' Wares in about 1987 when I was living in Arizona.  After arriving at the airport in Des Moines, Mother and I always made a trek to Elinor's.  This photo was taken at Elinor's on our last trip there together.  (It doesn't show the treasures I found on this final visit - but that's another story!)  During this short three-day weekend, Mother and I were able to go over all of the details for the Norway trip.  Mother had already packed her suitcase; I packed her carry-on with precious gifts for our friends and relatives in Norway.
  
     I am at a hotel near the SLC airport for a 5:50 am flight tomorrow to Minneapolis where I'll meet Mother after her flight from Des Moines.  After more than one year of planning, this "trip of a lifetime" is beginning!