The following copyright opinion piece appeared in a 1994 edition of Decorah Newspapers. The late Margaret Hanson Gulsvig's work appears for the third time in this blog series. Used with permission.
Editor's Note: The follow article was written by Margaret Hanson (Mrs. Elmo) Gulsvig of Westby, Wis. A 1938 graduate of Decorah High School, a 1942 graduate of Luther College, her father was business manager and treasurer of Luther until his death in 1952. Her husband is retired area administrator of the Westby Area Schools, and she taught English in Viroqua for about 20 years. She was also feature editor and columnist for the local newspaper for over 25 years, having recently retired.
Nordic Fest 1994 was...
- Planning early and then waiting ages for the end of July to come
- Corresponding with old friends, making plans we hoped would pan out
- Last minute calls with "We'll see you soon!"
- Driving to Decorah with high expectations -- and a curious lump in the throat.
- Loving every minute of reminiscing, laughing, catching up on 50 intervening years since our college days -- a miracle, since we're only in our 30's after all.
- Driving, driving, looking over our hometown, identifying the houses by names of people now long gone, homes we once lived in, homes beautifully preserved, while one had deteriorated despicably: a parsonage of elegance, painfully cast aside.
- Strolling through the cemetery, the beauty of the place softening our sorrow for parents long gone, neighbors who have joined them, and sadder, some contemporaries denied the extra years which are our privilege.
- Observing the damage Mother Nature can do in a fit of frenzied activity: trees, huge trees, decimated in fewer minutes than the time it takes to blow out a candle. Chain saw whining over their task of repairing Decorah in time for the onslaught of Norwegians -- and any other lucky nationalities.
- Walking, walking through the build-up area which we knew as our ice staking rink in the 1930's.
- Shopping on Water Street, admitting it looks considerably better than it used to.
- Visiting a real estate office for leads on longed-for, year-round accommodations, then, discourage by their lack or distance from neighborhoods we once knew as "ours" in close proximity to the college.
- Attending an OPERA! Pleasantly surprised by its caliber.
- Walking, walking...
- Sitting on the stone fence below the stately courthouse to watch the impressive opening ceremonies; thrilled by everything, especially by the lur solo played by the grandson of Rev. George Ulvilden, who played it at the first opening ceremonies 25 years ago.
- Being entranced by the entourage from Lillesand, Norway, some 60 strong, in heavy wool native costumes, who danced and sang with poise in the hot sun as our noses turned red and we dripped with perspiration.
- Live trolls, our favorite, zipping through the parade on a scooter.
- Driving to Washington Prairie, place of my roots, to partake of authentic Norwegian food; tempting a gastronomic revolt with extra helpings of rommegrot.
- Having a meal at a Chinese restaurant -- at a Nordic Fest?
- Attending a concert giving by an imported Norwegian at the new Decorah High School Auditorium, a very beautiful and functional addition to the Thomas R. Roberts School, the latter being named for our high school superintendent. The music? Bombastically beautiful!
- The inevitable long talks, tackling all the problems we face as years and complexities of age replace other carefree days.
- Attending Norwegian services at our "home church," actually able to follow along with what was transpiring, despite lapsing periodically into reverie over the seven Hansons, led by Pap, marching into one of the front pews every Sunday during my childhood: three family weddings, two funerals --
- Driving home, lost in reverie, amazed at how five or six days could slip away so quickly.
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