It has been over a year now since my mother died. I thought it was about time to put together some of the pictures from that trip in the fall of 2004.
We all traveled from the US. I flew on SAS (Scandinavian Airlines) from Seattle to Washington DC (well, this leg was on United), onwards to Copenhagen and finished the trip with a short flight up to Oslo.I had just sat down in the Airbus A330 for the flight to Copenhagen when the skies opened up from the remnants of a hurricane ( I think it was Ivan). There was actually a tornado visable from the airplane. Fun!
The weather delay wasn't too long. The big Airbus would soon be airborn for the 7 hour flight to Denmark. Sissel also flew on the same day arriving in Oslo on a Contintental flight from Newark shortly after me. Jacob flew on Northwest and arrived a day earlier. He would also stay several days after me hanging out with his friend Inge. Jacob, by the way, took a few of the pictures in this gallery.
It was gray and rainy when I touched-down in Oslo. My father had arrived several days prior to Sissel and I to make some final funeral arrangements. We drove around some of the old neighborhood before having dinner at Randi & Bjorn's (friends of the family). I stayed at Inge's apartment for the week, while Sissel stayed at Randi & Bjorn's.
A funeral for ones own mother is tough, but a necessary closure. The day started damp and cool, but the sun broke through the clouds and sky turned blue just in time for the burial.
I think she would have approved of the simple setting and the fresh flowers.
It was nice to spend a couple of days walking around Oslo. The three of us also spent some time walking around the old neighborhoods. At the same time my father was visiting with his sister. While you can't go back in time, you can still enjoy enjoy the memories.
The next trip to Norway should be in the summer of 2006. I plan on taking Sonja back to meet family and have her see where her heritage is from.
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 in Oslo - building started in the 1290's.jpg)