Ja maritime sons of Odin and friends of Thor,
Couldn't resist tossing the hammer a bit, by interjecting a little bit
more Norde humor.Just got back from the week long holiday scandahoovian
family get together (30 Norwegians and a Finn) We did the usual meal of
lefsa and lutefisk with strong black coffee to wash it down.

However, the questions remain the same. 1) If lefsa-ed to our own devices,
would we eat the lutefisk? (the piece of Cod which surpass all
understanding) 2) Are we blonde because of genetics or is
our hair bleached from the inside out because of the lutefisk diet?
3) Do we eat this stuff to commune with our heritage, or to please our
grandparents or, are we innately driven to fortify our constitutions with
Vitamin V (for Viking) so that we may go out upon the cold seas with stout
hearts in long wooden boats of our own making.

All I know, is that when I was younger, my cousins and I spent most of our
time trying to stay up wind of the lutefisk pot. Our Afternoons were
spent planning our evening food raid. We spent most Christmas eves quietly
disappearing in ones and twos, from the holiday house to meet out side
in the yard, so as to pile 15 at a time, into the back of an old
pick up truck and cruise around town looking for the still open 7-11 for
a more palatable meal... The oldest cousin would drive and choose the
music, the rest would huddle, and best of all we felt like a Viking horde
pillaging our neighbors for better eats. Usually, we ate what we found
under the stars, by bonfires with blood relatives, and it was so vitally
real, so aboriginal and tribal.

And now, decades later, we (my Norsky cousins and I) sit around by the
wood stove, talking about boats, asking for seconds, singing the old hymns,
as our kids ask to borrow the keys to the truck so ah they can ah ere ah
go get something to eat.. I mean...aahh visit some friends of Italian
heritage. We hand them the keys and wink at each other knowing they'll be scoring cheeseburgers at the 7-11 or spaghetti at a friends house. We
know they will be eating communally in the in the cold of a pickup or
around the fire ring by the ice house. We know they will be building the
next generation of family bonds secured in memories. Yeah I think lutefisk builds character.

Lefsa and lutefisk is an acquired taste. And I regularly and eagerly ask
for more now, But at times I wonder if I might not be allowed to pile in
that old truck with the youngsters just one more time.

May your Jul log burn long on the season,
and your keelson lay straight on the waters
Takk
Russ