Why remembering the past is one of the greatest gifts we can give to the future
First and foremost – welcome back! Or, if this is your first time visiting my ‘humble abode’; welcome!
It is safe to say that my blog has been through a series of visual changes during this particular vacation; many of which can be compared with ongoing changes in my own life…
While I am far from completely happy with it, it is at current, closer than it was before.
To say that this has been a rocky resting period, would be an understatement!
Firstly, I was preopared to spend a few weeks at my family cottage; relaxing – as one does. However, as Norway was in the Fifa World Cup for the first time in decades – very few of us got much rest, with the – (I would argue) national excitement that came with it!
Secondly, as is also quite common; several of my family members (who also happened to drive all the cars) grew tired of being there after only a week, leading to a very short time up there.
I was however, not that surprised to be honest, as many of them are «reliably unreliable» in that sense!
In retrospect, however – going home earlier was definately the best option for me, as my phone decided to break up with me the day before our departure. I now have a new one – and while I still love the ‘flippies’ – I’ve never gotten one to last me more than 2 years!
And as somene who values longevity, that is just repulsive.
I now have an S26 instead, with a great camera, and a supposedly better longevity potential.
Time will tell…
The Cottage
There are many reasons why the cottage is one of my favourite places. Not only does it almost function as a museum of my childhood; with elements I’ve made and pictures of me as a child; but it is also a connection to previous generations in my line, with their art, pictures and furniture – as a part of my familiar and historic heritage.
According to my mother, my grandfather finished building the cabin when she was 3 years old. That is over 60 years ago.
While most cabins from this generation today, has undergone severe «improvements» to commodify ‘homely’ practicalities (such as a sewage system) – our have not. There is electricity, and with mobile internet we have the opportunity to watch TV. There is also water from a well on the property, but the «bathroom» is an outdoor shed. Personally I dont mind, as the whole point of these cabins in the first place, were to relax and live slower and simpler – without the evergrowing rust of everyday life.
Today, most Norwegian cottages are built with the same amount of commodities that you have at home. And while this is very practical for those in need of them (such as certain types of disabilities) – I find it sad for everyone else, as with time these people will loose sight and knowledge of a large amount of our cultural inheritance.
It should be said though, that the rockiness of my vacation had little to do with phone or family initially. It began with me feeling really unwell for the first 3 days, then having the next three days completely packed with travel, meeting up with various family, and long-time birthday parties.
And while most of these things were wonderful- (getting back in touch with distant relatives especially!).
But when you’re on meds that make you tired from the moment you wake up and keep you as such untill the time you fall asleep, too much of the good can turn bad eventually.
Despite my tiredness, one of the more interesting things for me whenever I am at the cottage, is taking a day to travel, especially up to Beitostølen. It takes a couple of hours from where my cabin lies, and has in later times become extremely popular for newer cabins made and owned by ‘city folk’. Whether that is a positive or a negative can certainly be discussed, but I personally love that you can find high-end fashion shops, art galleries and homemade farm products within 5-10 minutes of driving distance – If you know where to look!
This year I bought a beautiful, yet highly overprised, full cotton shirt, as I had been looking for something similar. And from the farm [Bitebua] – a box of homemade prim and a pack of mountain butter. The taste is incredible.
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As I mentioned earlier, a relative (owning the cottage next to our) threw a massive birthday party for one of her sons. It was very sweet and we all had a great time.
One of the most interesting attendants, however, I found to be my second cousins father-in-law. He was approaching 90 years, and told me many stories of pre- and post WWII Norway.
Many of his stories I recognized from what my grandpa used to tell me, some from what my grandmother would say – and some from what her sister still tells me.
Regardless, I view these kinds of stories as massively important. Not only from the point of view of a history nerd – but also from the view of someone wishing to preopare themselves for whatever hell is about to come.
History goes back and forth, untill we finally learn something from it. I see it all the time.
Will there be another war in the west before I die – most probably, based on the current way of things. And if so, I want to be fully preopared for what to expect, how to survive with the least amount of injuries. And it kind of goes without saying, that the likeliest way to get there, is to listen to – and account for the stories we inherit as people. And many of these stories will only ever be found, if we are willing to put away our phones, and LISTEN.
We inherit far more than genetics from our ancestors.
We inherit courage.
We inherit habits.
And more than anything, we inherit stories!
And as such, perhaps the greatest stories we inherit is the one, where ordinary people, just like me and you, have always found ways to keep living through extraordinary circumstances.
– Silje Elsrud Yttervik
Travelling with Friends!
So, as I came home a bit earlier than originally planned, I was invited by one of my closest friends, to join him and his family down to another cottage, located in the south of the country. These cottages are a usually a bit newer, with more commodities than elsewhere, probably as a way to adapt from the fact that you cannot get there without a boat (you know – the types of cottages I mentioned before). This particular cottage is in Lyngør – a gorgeous Island area, with a rich history of its own;
«The Battle of Lyngør was a naval battle fought on 6 July 1812 between Denmark-Norway and Great Britain. The battle was part of the Napoleonic Wars. The most famous ships that participated were the Norwegian frigate Najaden and the British ship of the line Dictator.»
(https://snl.no/slaget_ved_Lyng%C3%B8rr)
While I had been to this cabin once before, this time we really had the time to explore the wonderful Marina-culture severly present throughout the island.
We walked throughout forest areas, I hadn’t seen before, went on top of reefs for a little bit of fishing (getting a ton of steps in in the process!) – and ate at several popular resturants along the pier.
Later in the week, we all went to another popular Marina city (Arendal) through a boat trip. With a father from the North of Norway, being on a boat has been an essential part of my childhood – and I absolutely love it! Whether it’s the smell of seawater, or the flowy, clean wind around my face – being on a boat is truly relaxing for me; even at high speed, in rain or during massive heat. I just love it! <3
Arendal is also a city I had never been to before, and I did the most for the time we had there; visiting «Sørlandsutstillingen» at an old art-gallery, taking photos of street art, a familiar church and pretty buildings, and visiting local shops to find my mother a birthday present. And then the whole gang went to catch dinner along the city pier, before taking the 1 1/2 hour boat-trip back to Lyngør.
Inherited Disability and the treatment of family
So, saying that I haven’t gotten an ounce of rest at either of these cottages would be completely false. Because, to me, even just the smell of the lake, the trees – and the old furniture inside, is enough for my specific nervous system to calm down.
Still – even if my own thoughts about being at these cabins is calm, warm and kind – there is no way of knowing how I would’ve been treated had my epilepsy been more obvious from a younger age – or had I lived at a different time.
Historical evidence suggests, I would most likely have been either institutionalized – or sent off for demonic church-treatings, depending on area…
An example of this is one of my mother’s family members, who were apparantly institutionalized several times during his life. When looking at the ‘full picture’ however, it’s really not that difficult to understand why…
As a young child, this boy was often ‘locked’ in a basement– as he would scream and shout in agony during the day, and his parents were afraid of what the nabours would think. When in his room, his parents would place a pillow over his head to make him stop screaming. Early 1900’s countryside Norway was terrible in that sense, as people knew very little – and acted as if nabours finding out (anything) would be a massive issue.
And to some it was! After all gossip spreads like wildfire –
and the worse, the better!!
Had I been born even further back, I would most likely have been burned at the stakes, as Danish ‘holymen’ convinced others that epilepsy was considered a sign of either being a witch – or having had contact witht the devil.
Now it is true; you don’t know what you don’t know – But the ways previous generations always lead to ultra extremes, have made me think alot longer about any decision I make that might implement other people…
I often worry that illness and disability has disrupted the life I was supposed to live. But standing there, in these cottages – surrounded by cultural, historical and familiar elements from several generations back – also makes me grateful for any of the positive outcomes in my current time.
With that in mind, I also have to add that going forward, my blog will probably only be updated every other week – as my current medications have made me so tired that I have little time or energy to write every week. Hopefully, as I love to write – changing this from something I «just have to get done» to something I «want to get done» will also have a positive effect on my writing going forward!
Question: Which inherited stories have had the biggest impact on you?
And why?
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A Task for you reader…
Look back at your life, and ask yourself;
– Which stories do I want to keep and continue passing on to future generations?
– Why these stories specifically?
Then, write them down.
– Silje