Ja, vi elsker...

As parents, Dan and I love to make our sons squirm. With our quirky ways, we celebrate life's fun. "Why be SO serious? Laugh when you can!" is the family motto. Today I took that philosophy on the road.

Grabbing my Norwegian flag, I hopped into the car ready to drive Isaac and Aaron to Zero Hour band at school.
I rolled down my window, stuck out the flag and chanted: "Heia Norge!" (Hooray for Norway)

I drove round the road's corner and said, "Some people fly Vikings' (football team) flags out their (car) windows. They're just wannabes! We fly the true Norwegian flag!"

My flag whipped and snapped in the wind. "It's gonna fly off!" Aaron warned. "You better pull it in."

"You're right!" I said. "Those staples might not hold." As I rolled the stick to secure the fabric around the staples, my son's eyes rolled. I smiled and sang:

Ja, vi elsker dette landet som det stiger frem. Furu, værbitt over vannet med de tusen hjem. Elsker, elsker det og tenker på vår far og mor, og den saganatt som senker drømme på vår jord, og den saganatt som senker, senker drømme på vår jord.


"That's how Norwegians celebrate their Constitution Day - singing their national anthem and waving their flags," I said. "Do you have your flag?"

Isaac reached in his pocket, pulled out a toothpick-sized red-white-and-blue-cross flag, and twirled it around between his fingers. Aaron shook his head, "No way!"

"What?" I chided watching for my middle son's reaction in the rear view mirror. "You're not celebrating your Norwegian roots today? I'll be back with it later today and have the school secretary deliver it to you during class!"

Aaron's eyes bulged. He countered, "Then I'll just have to tell the class about you singing Norway's national anthem and flying the flag out the window on the way to school."

"Yes!" I smiled. "That's the whole point!"

We reached the end of our gravel road and came to the highway intersection, just blocks from school. Isaac pointed to the flag and said, "Aren't you gonna pull that thing in?"

"What?" I teased. "And miss the chance to let everyone know it's 17 Mai! No way!"

The boys squirmed, looking into the cars making left-hand turns toward school and hoping to spot NO familiar faces.

I waved the flag as we drove down main street. The boys crunched down in their seats. As we turned into the school parking lot, Isaac said, "Just let us off at the corner!"

"We're already here," I said. "You can tell them it's your mother's 'shape-ups' causing her to lose sanity."

Aaron jumped out of the car and said, "I'll tell them it's because you FORGOT those kooky shoes."

I laughed, "Have a great day! I'll be by with your flag later, Aaron!"


Ja, vi elsker...to make our kids squirm.




Here's to a joyous 17 Mai. There's krumkake on the way!