Week 2 of 52 Weeks of Adventure #lefse

Thanks to an alignment problem I found my way to south Minneapolis for a chiropractic visit Monday after work. Nearby is the iconic gift and deli/meat all things Norwegian and Swedish and probably Danish store, Ingebretsen’s Nordic Marketplace. It was as if the car knew I needed an adventure for the week. As I pulled into a parking spot I looked down the street to see the Taquaria’s and Supermercados. In this neighborhood full of ethnic diversity sits the establishment of my people. As you step into the gift shop every sense hits you, the smells of the deli, the bright red, blue and yellow colors, the feeling of warmth, or maybe that feeling comes from the big sweaters that will protect the Norske through the coming months.

I head to the deli side of the building, it’s about 15 steps; this is not a large store. I find the lefse and grab two packages. Cash and check only here folks, don’t bring your debit cards to the deli. The place is filled with men and women, clearly from the same place I come from. Some with rosemaling designs on their jean jackets. Two women playfully argue about who is going to get the last peppered salmon and who will get the plain one. The meat counter is filled with Swedish sausage, ham hocks and dried meats, steaks, pork and an assortment of fish.

A women points at the sauerkraut and makes eye contact with me, “I am going home to make sauerkraut this weekend. I am getting the cabbage from Louise; she has the best and biggest cabbage.”
I smile and ask how long it will take, she tells me 12 weeks and goes on about her love for the kraut, reminds her of her mother and grandmother making it.
“Number 42!” the deli counter person yells. That’s me, the sauerkraut lady moves on to the next person in line to tell her of her adventure to come. I pay $15.98 for my two packages of lefse and head out the door.

As I think of my year of 52 weeks of adventure I can’t help but enjoy this little stop at Ingebretsen’s Nordic Marketplace; the wooden floors, the old fashioned butcher case, counter and the feeling of being home. Sometimes an adventure into the past is just what you need to propel you forward, reminding you to step back, relax and enjoy before you move on. Take a moment, smell the sauerkraut, taste the crackers and enjoy the day.

Put it on your list of things to do, you will find it, and my people at 1601 E Lake St. Minneapolis.

By the way, the lefse is good, but not as good as my Mom’s. (That’s tough to beat)

As always, I wish you peace!

Week One of Fifty-two Weeks of Adventure

As I started this week I declared I would find some adventure or discovery, some ah-ha moment each week. This week I expected to find it in Washington DC when I was there for work, somewhere around the beauty of the National monuments or on the National Mall. I did not find it the once again closed Washington Monument, at the Lincoln Monument, or at the National Mall. Instead as I waited for my hotel room to be cleaned I wandered around the neighborhood. As I walked by a protest, and some construction I could see the park in front of the White House, and just across the street on a small corner lot sat a small very old looking Church. The sign out front announced the service that started five minutes ago. I find a seat, not hard considering there were four other people there including the pastor. I learn from the brochure this is St. John’s Church, Lafayette Square, known as “The Church of the Presidents” because beginning with James Madison, every person who has held the office of President of the US has attended a service at the church.

As I listened and observed I thought of the men who have “run” our country and their thoughts as they sat in this same room. What did Abraham Lincoln think about? Did Theodore Roosevelt ponder the state of the country here? Were they here because they were told everyone else was or did George H Bush, Clinton, Reagan and the rest come here to worship? Were they humble, open minded? Did they pray for peace for this nation? Democrats and Republicans, some powerful in their position, some weak all sat in this room at one time over the years.

I am sure without a doubt that all of these men were facing trials; some of them with personal hidden demons. I couldn’t help but think of the quiet inside of this old church and the chaos that was boiling throughout the city and country. It was a respite among the storm.

This adventure reminds me of the need for civility and peace. That is my wish.