Some history today

Day 184, "Every picture has a story"

The Melheim farm in the Fardal Valley in Norway

When I looked at my wall calendar this morning I noticed that this is the day, in 1991, that Uncle Henry died.  Of course my history with Henry consists of mainly 2 things.  One, playing Chinese Checkers with him at Grandma's house until I could beat him and then he would not play.  Two, the VERY awful smoke in Grandma's entry way in the winter.  Grandma would not allow him to smoke in the house so in the winter he had to stay in the entry way and smoke.  I do not know what kind of cigarettes he smoked but they were VERY stinky.  With the number of times I stayed at Grandma's after a basketball or football game I surprised I am not suffering from lung cancer!

On to the story of the day.  I think Grandma was a year or two old when the family came over from Norway.  If one would question, Did they really come from Norway, here is the answer.e  Here are the names of Grandma's siblings: Martha (Kristina), Anfin, Carl, Benard, Sigvard, Henry and of course Grandma whose name was Ingeborg but everyone called her by her middle name Emma.  If one wonders if people live longer today, yes they do.  The ages at death were Kristina 69, Anfin 80, Emma 74, Carl 64, Benard 56, Sigvard (Sig) 51 and Henry 91.  That is an average age of 69 at death.  

If I am right and they came over when Grandma was 1 that would mean they arrived in 1891.

Well the slow but steady "getting ready" to go north has happened. I now have 2 boxes in the guest bedroom that are full of things to go north.  As the days go by more and more will be placed in boxes on the floor.  Hopefully by May 18 or 19, when we leave, NOTHING will be left behind that should go.  

It is pretty quiet here and it is nice.  As we look out through our lanai we look into a wildlife preserve and beyond that is a pond.  To our left is a neighbor that we share a common inside wall.  To our right is a neighbor whose house is about 20 feet away.  Both have left for the season so it is quiet and private for the time we have left here.  One of the nice things is when I swim I can use my swim suit that I have had for 72 years!!!  I would not complain about noise etc. but from time to time you can hear the neighbors, not now of course.  

No tennis today and this body is again telling me that I could use the rest.  I have a court tomorrow but there is a conflict so perhaps that will not happen.  

Enough for now.  I had ham and black olives in my scrambled eggs this morning and then complimented that with FP with a T of heavy cream.  I know, I need to lose weight so maybe I will just go light at lunch and dinner.