On Saturday, July 16, there was a delightful family get-together at daughter Monice's. My sister's daughter, Kim, along with her husband, Kevin, and granddaughter, Kierra, drove down from north-central Wisconsin. Son James and his wife, Aimee, and seven-week old Ruby joined us as well. The plan was for me to hand down some of the Vorland/Richardson memorabilia to the next generation. In addition, we would cook some of my mother's (Ingrid Vorland Richardson) Norwegian recipes, which I had copied for everyone.
The day began and ended with hugs and laughter. Everyone shared memories past of family gatherings at holidays, weddings, funerals, births and graduations. I asked everyone to pitch in and unload my car of the many boxes of family history I had brought with me. I had painstakingly made a box each for Kim, Monice and James...items I knew would strike a chord with them. In Monice's box I included a pink poodle figurine for grandson Zach...a lover of both the color pink and animals of all kinds. Kim's eyes lit up when she garnered Grandma Richardson's antique jewelry box. James and Aimee, connisseurs of good wine, delighted in the wine-bottle Christmas ornament.
Our first meal of the day was Norwegian pancakes...paper-thin and delicate vanilla-infused crepes which were rolled up after being slathered with butter and a generous scoop of sugar. I made three batches, and we probably could have eaten more, but the day was passing quickly.
Comla was next on the list. A dumpling made of finely grated potatoes and stuffed with several cubes of salt pork, they are boiled in water along with the rind and fat of the salt pork for added flavor. They can be eaten right out of the pot, or chilled well, then sliced and fried in butter. We would have them fried later, along with Norwegian meatballs and gravy, fresh green beans and hearty slabs of bakery bread with thick crusts and soft centers. James had brought hard nuts of mace, which we grated and added to the meatballs. Mace is used in many Norwegian recipes, and is what gives a unique and tasty twist to the cooking.
While we waited for the comla to chill in the refrigerator, I had everyone draw numbers. Starting with the person who drew number one, they began to choose from the items that were not designated for anyone in particular. Monice chose Grandma Richardson's wooden salad set first, as I knew she would. There were lots of laughs as Monice would grab three or four items that she wanted when it was her turn, or Kim would sit back in her chair saying, "I'm not even going to bother because Monice will get what I want anyhow." The banter was light and jovial, and everyone seemed very pleased with what they had chosen. The only item no one seemed to want was a pair of brass candlesticks, and I brought them back home with me for my final moving-sale day.
The two grandchildren, Zach and Kierra, were oblivious to the sentiment in the room and amused themselves with Wii Sports. Even they seemed to enjoy the Norwegian food, however, and I was relieved that I was able to pass the recipes along. I hate to see traditions like that die, and I'm thinking that the family will most likely not be coming to Utila for Christmas anytime soon.
I have resigned myself to making new traditions on Utila. The first Christmas away from my family may be a little sad, but I will make the best of it...as will they. We will talk on Skype during the Christmas festivities, and they will show me via the webcam what a terrific job they did making Norwegian Christmas bread. I will, undoubtedly, be sitting in my beach chair drinking mojitos and listening to the waves lap the shore.
