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952-474-9595

The Victoria

GAZETTE

January 2008

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From the Editor

Pediatric Rehabilitation Clinic.

Occupational Therapy. Speech Therapy.

952-443-9888

Victoria’s Corner Bar. Nightly Specials and Menus. 952-443-9944

Buying or Selling Victoria?

Call Nan Emmer. 612-702-2020

Specialized assisted living for those

with memory challenges.

Victoria. 952-908-2215

Weinzierl

Jewelers

8 First Street in Waconia. 952-442-2885

Preschool and Childcare in Victoria.

Call 952-443-2121.

MVT Excavating

No job is too small. 952-446-9341

The Key

The Key to advertisers

in the Victoria Gazette.

Located at www.VictoriaGazette.com.

Prairie Lawn & Garden

Service is what we sell. 952-937-2100

We were driving back to Victoria the morning of December 28^th after a night at the AmericInn in Marshall, having been invited the previous evening to a family gathering at my brother Bernie and his wife Margene’s home out in the countryside.

As is our custom on the way back to Victoria, Allan and I were recalling the conversations with siblings and nieces and nephews as we’re driving through Green Valley and Redwood Falls, Morton and Fairfax, Gaylord and Arlington, Winthrop and finally Waconia and then Victoria and home sweet home.

I recalled a particular spate of laughter in the men’s corner at my brother’s place. Allan explained that the guys had been commenting how they sometimes struggle to remember names and it seems that they are beginning to experience some senior moments.

Considering the fact that people age 55 and over can now get senior discount rates at hotels like the AmericInn and Drury Inn, we know it doesn’t take an octogenarian to be called a senior citizen, which isn’t a bad name by the way, especially considering the alternative: dead. It also doesn’t take an octogenarian to have a senior moment. Sometimes all it takes is a Norwegian.

So Allan tells my brothers and brother in law the story about Ole and Sven ...

Sven and his wife were invited over to Ole and Lena’s home for dinner. After an enjoyable evening and an enjoyable dinner of lutefisk, lefse, and a big pot of mashed potatoes, and then krumkaka for dessert, the ladies were in the kitchen doing the dishes. The men continued chatting at the table about the weather, and all that important stuff, and sipping on some aquavit.

Sven asked Ole if he tried the new cafe that just opened in town. Sven and his wife had been there and Sven went on to rave about the good food, the good service, and hospitality.

Ole said, “Lena and I will have to go there some time and check it out. What is the name of that new restaurant?”

Sven hemmed and hawed, unable to recall the name of the restaurant. He finally said, “You know, I can’t think of the name. It’s on the same street as the Lutheran church, just down past the old library.”

Still trying to come up with the name of the restaurant, Sven asked Ole, “What’s the name of that red flower that has thorns?”

“Rose,” replied Ole.

“Thanks,” said Sven, who turned toward the kitchen and yelled, “Hey, Rose, what’s the name of that cafe we were at the other night?”

***

The next day Ole and Sven went fishing at a nearby lake and had the best luck ever, pulling them in one after the other. They wanted to return to the exact same spot the next day to continue the good fishing, so before they left the location they marked the spot by putting a big X on the floor of their boat.

***

When winter came along, parking was allowed on only one side of the street so the snowplows could get through. On odd-numbered days, they could park on the odd-numbered side of the street. On even-numbered days, they could park on the even-numbered side of the street.

Toward the end of the winter season, Ole was getting tired of all that monkey business. Lena agreed it was a chore to keep moving their car. She said, “Aw, to heck with them, Ole. Don’t worry about it today. Just leave the car in the garage.”

***

My resolution for the New Year is to keep hanging out with Ole and Sven.