Lögberg-Heimskringla - 01.05.2015, Blaðsíða 8

8 • Lögberg-Heimskringla • May 1 2015
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As I grow older and more weary of the fast pace of life, I think often of the quiet place I escaped to when I was nine years of age.
One day I ventured beyond the bounds of our back
yard into the empty lot between our house and our
neighbour’s and discovered a garden of overgrown
box elders, quivering aspens and the remains of an old
forgotten orchard covered in a thicket
of thorns and vines. Amongst the tangled
undergrowth I spied a lovely maple tree and beneath
it a large vine-covered bump concealing a large object
– the body of an old abandoned automobile. It was
an open-air model without a roof and the doors were
missing.
I pushed aside the undergrowth and climbed
in. It felt just right! The once shiny leather seats
were cracked and somewhat discolored but later,
when I washed them off, they shone almost like new,
displaying some of their former luxury and elegance.
Judging from the incessant, chirping birdsong, I could
tell that the birds, too, loved this spot. It was just at the
start of the nesting season and, as they
were gathering twigs and bits of
string and fibers to outfit their
nests, so too was I refurbishing
mine. Soon we were all settled
in – they in the maple tree, and I
in my old Willys-Knight.
This spot became my
sanctuary, a place of retreat from
a lively family of four older
brothers and a sister. I felt some
guilt at not being as dedicated as
she in helping with the household
chores. My brothers liked to build
things, but, if not occupied with a
project, tended to tease and I often
was the victim if I happened to be
around. This unkempt garden provided
sunlight, shade and song and became my
hideaway for the next few years. It was
here that I learned to read for pleasure.
Although there were many books in our
home, both in English and Icelandic, there
were none for children with one exception, Hurlbut’s
Story of the Bible, a huge book Mama had bought
with me in mind. I devoured all two thousand pages
and read the stories I liked best over and over. Then
I turned to the books my siblings used in literature
classes in school. I discovered Lamb’s Tales from
Shakespeare, and later I tackled some of the plays such
as A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Tempest.
No one ever discovered my secret hiding place
nor did I confide in anyone. There I spent many of the
most enjoyable hours of my childhood.
Olof Bertram
Nanaimo, BC
Mountain Þorrablót draws 205 people
Sounds of laughter and good conversation floated over the banquet
room at the Mountain, North
Dakota Community Center as
Icelanders and their friends
celebrated the beginning of
the end of winter on February
21st, at the annual Þorrablót.
Icelandic folk songs drifted
from the accordion played by
Susan Powers as she serenaded
the arrivals. A total of 205
people attended the feast of
traditional Icelandic food and
fun.
The appetizer menu
included hákarl (fermented
shark), súrsaðir hrútspungar
(sour ram balls), harðfiskur
og smjör (dried cod with
butter), langamma’s brúnt
brauð (grandmother’s brown
bread), gravlax og graflaxsósa
(smoked salmon with sauce),
súrsuðum síld (pickled herring),
brennivín (Caraway Schnapps),
and Reyka vodka with Opal.
The dinner menu included
þorskur (cod), kjúklingur
(chicken), hangikjöt (smoked
lamb), rúllupylsa (rolled
beef), grænn baunir (green
peas), kartöflustappa og næpa
(mashed potato and turnip),
herb smjör (herb butter), soðið
rauðkál (boiled red cabbage),
Íslensk vatn (Icelandic water),
and kaffi (coffee).
The dessert menu was
tastings of piparkökur (pepper
cookies), vínarterta (Vienna
torte), kleinur (deep‐fried
bows), lakkris (licorice),
skýr, pönnukökur (pancakes),
krydduð sætsúpa (spiced fruit
soup).
Guests David Gislason and
Almar Grímsson led the group
in the Icelandic folk songs Núer
frost á Fróni, Hvað er svo glatt,
Fósturlandsins Freyja, and Táp
og fjör. Poetry was read by
Robert Olgeirson and David
Gislason. Curtis Olafson was
honored for his many years as
president of the ICA.
The evening was finished
off with the live auction of
donated items led by auctioneer
extraordinaire, Dennis Biliske.
Among the auctioned items
were an Icelandic sweater, a
watercolor of the Vikur Church,
three bottles of Pinot Noir
from the Bjornson Winery,
rúllapylsa, hangikjöt, and many
other specialty items. Fierce
bidding wars developed among
many of the items, especially
one bottle of brennivín that was
clothed in an Icelandic sweater.
The room roared with laughter
when Dennis Biliske remarked,
“Icelanders like their women
naked and sweaters on their
bottles.”
The silent auction progressed
through the evening and kept
people on their toes as the many
donated items were contested.
The highest bidders took home
some very choice items.
We toasted the ancestors,
feasted royally, and raised
money for the Snorri Program
and Heritage Sites program.
It was a very successful, fun
evening and we can hardly wait
until next year.
Hvað er svo glatt sem góðra
vina findur
(What is as joyful as the
gathering of good friends)
There were many people
who donated items, funding,
talent, and food for the
Þorrablót. Many worked on
setting up and the clean up
afterwards. Many worked
during the evening to help make
things flow. Thank you doesn’t
seem adequate to extend our
appreciation to everyone for
all of the help. But language
will have to do and so we say
“þakka þér svo mikið” to all
who helped make this a very
fun evening.
My hideaway
Jolene Halldorson
and Kathleen Johnson
Mountain, ND
Family Parade is a new feature for L-H, an opportunity for
readers to ensure that, somewhere, there will be a permanent,
archived record of their families, available years from now when
some descendent begins to wonder about the ancestors.
Or, maybe, just a way to pay tribute to your parents,
or to a much-loved amma or afi.
Share an important moment from your family history
A N E W F E A T U R E I N L - H
Submissions should be sent to: Catherine@lh-inc.ca.
The cost is $50 for 200 words and a photo.
HAVE YOUR FAMILY STORY
PUBLISHED
Family Parade is an opportunity for readers to
ensure that there will be a permanent, archived
record of their families in Lögberg-Heimskringla.
Share your stories, pay tribute to your parents or
to a much-loved amma or afi.
FAMILY PARADE
Left: Curtis Olafson and Jolene Halldorson
Above: Susan Sigurdson Powers