In Fauske

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Today was the day we went to Fauske to celebrate my Dad’s 78th birthday. Kristine was staying in Fauske at Eirik’s place. Shelley and I drove up to Fauske after enjoying a nice little breakfast at the hotel in Bodø.

We made the drive up to Fauske which takes about an hour. Roughly another fifteen minutes to reach Eirik’s house. Shelley and I actually brought some laundry to do at Eirik‘s since the dryer at the hotel wasn’t working. That was nice of him to let us do this. We looked through some old photos, but then it was time to head out to my Uncle Jens Vidar and Tante Astrid’s house for a light lunch.

Astrid had prepared some beautiful open-faced sandwiches for us to eat. We had these with coffee and enjoyed meeting “Booster” which is how “Buster” is pronounced in Norwegian. He was a shy dog but happy and loved.

After lunch, Jens Vidar accompanied us to the local cemetery where some members of the family were interred. I got to visit the site of my grandfather who died on the same day, 78 years before, on 7 Jun 1945. It also happened to be the day my Dad was born in hospital in Fauske. Same day. One in, one out.

We captured some photos, and then went to drop Uncle off at home. Eirik, Kristine, Shelley, and I then made our way to Eirik’s place to meet some more family who were coming over for supper. We had a fantastic feast (I especially enjoyed the reindeer stew) and we had a great time visiting, looking at old photos, and listening to tons of Norwegian.

Shelley and I then had to leave to make our hour drive back from Fauske to Bodø and turned in for the night at our hotel downtown.

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Photos

Family lunch
Tante Astrid, Shelley, Kristine, Eric, and Uncle Jens Vidar.

Fauske cemetery
My great-grandparents and my granfather’s burial marker.

Fauske cemetery
Kristine and I at our grandparents’ grave.

Grave stone
Tante Borghild and Uncle Konrad

Sturlaheim
The house my grandmother built after Dad was born in 1945.

Hospital
The hospital where my Farmor gave birth to her son (my Dad) and the same day her husband passed away.

Road sign
Name places my Farmor would often talk about, all in one sign!

Eldar and Eric
Going through some old photos with Eldar Stendal.

Family photo
Kristine, Uncle Jens Vidar, and Eric

Family supper
Young Williard, Eirik, Eldar, Kristine, Gurd, Eric, and Shelley at the table.

Dad
Picture of Dad in Sechelt on his 78th birthday; we were in Fauske, Norway where he was born on the very day.