Growing up in a Scandinavian community, we carried on the Norwegian traditions from my Dad's side. My Mom made the usual sandbakkles, rosettes, krumkake and sprits cookies. We always had Lutefisk & Lefse on Christmas Eve along with Swedish meatballs, mashed potatoes & gravy. Traditions do not demand that you like them, some you just tolerate... like Lutefisk... but I loved Lefse and Swedish meatballs!
We would open presents on Christmas Eve after my Dad came in from milking. We'd be waiting upstairs while my oldest sister read the Christmas story from the Bible and then my parents would call us downstairs to a living room filled with gifts from Santa! I never could fiqure out how the presents got there... we didn't have a fireplace... we saw neither hide nor hair of Santa & his Reindeer...
That's me on the right at 4 years old... the year I got my pink metal sink, stove and refrigerator. They seemed so real to a little girl! I played with them for years! They were my most memorable Christmas gift!
Then there was the year I was going to get a horse... or so I thought. I wanted one sooo bad and in my little mind I was absolutely convinced that I was going to get one! It was while my Dad was still in the barn that Christmas Eve that the phone rang and it was a man that needed to talk to Dad. Oh my gosh, it had to be the man that was calling to see when he should deliver my horse! Why else would he be calling on Christmas Eve?
Well, long story short, I didn't get my horse that year... or any other year for that matter. But I'm ok... I really am... no really!
Then there was the year that I asked for the 12 inch GI Joe doll. He was brand new in catalogs. I had a couple Barbie dolls... and of course Ken... but when I saw what Joe could do!! He could bend and pose and actually wrap his arms around Barbie, Midge or whomever I planned to hook him up with. So let me tell you what, I was the envy of all my friends when they saw how hunky and masculine Joe was compared to that stiff, uptight Ken... they too wished they had thought to ask for a GI Joe.
Several years ago I saw an article on toys from the 60's and read that if my GI Joe was one of the first made with a scar on his cheek, and MINE DID, he was worth over $300.00! But no way was I breaking up Barbie & Joe... he was a keeper.
I've never had lutefisk, and really have no strong desire to try it. Whenever someone talks about lutefisk they get this strange look on their face as if it were more something they endured rather than enjoyed.
ReplyDeleteI just read your comment on my blog (yeah, I'm a bit behind :)
I was raised in Northern Wisconsin near the U.P. border. But I now live along the Western Wisconsin border right outside the Twin Cities.
that's such a great story!!! you're hilarious
ReplyDeleteWonderful story!! and such a sweet picture.
ReplyDeleteseeing your family christmas photo sure brings back memories
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