text and image Britt-Arnhild Wigum Lindland
On our way to the cabin we pass a mountain. A perfect place for cross country skiing. When we go to the cabin during the winter months we always bring our skis, and on driving there we always (well, let us say if weather permits) stop at Hemnekjølen for a few hours out in the snow.
Did you know that Norwegians are born with skis on their feet. Hard deliveries for sure, but we are of stubborn heritage. I was no exception, the skis were there already from birth. Here you see me at age 2 1/2, no skis to be seen, but they are there somewhere, my boots are traditional ski boots. Wearing a handknitted sweater made by mamma, holding mamma's hand, brother Frode in the sledge behind us. (though when looking twice at the photo I wonder if this is not me at all but one of my younger cousins.....the colour choice in the girl's sweather looks like my aunt's.....)
Can you see the handknitted sweather my mamma is wearing. The pattern is called Cortina and was designed for the Winter Olympics in Cortina, was itin 1956? I still have it.
Just like our parents took us out cross country skiing on Sundays, and other days, we have taken our kids out. Torgeir got his first pair of skis before he was two, a long chain of memories belong to us as a family.
Cross country skiing for us as a lot about fun. We ski for an hour, then find a place to sit down for coffee, hot chocolate, hotdogs grilled on a fire, chocolate, oranges........and playing. Like the track Marta made on Saturday......who can ski the track fastest......
This photo is from 1963, brother Børge a baby in the pram, here my father has a handknitted sweather on.....knitted by my mother of course. Mamma still knits, this winter it is long, beautyfully multicoloured patterned sweathers for Marta 15 (in 6 days), Mathilde 14 (almost), Kamilla 13 (almost) and Embla 12 (in a few months). Four cousins.
My father is quite a charmeur, isn't he? Smoking a pipe :-)
Sun. Snow. Ski. Then and now. isn't it amazing the way a heart can be so filled with memories, with pleasure, with thankfulness........still it keeps on beating, the same pattern.
Winter Sundays was for meeting aunts, uncles and cousins....and my mamma was not the only knitting mamma. I love the white and black sweather I am wearing here, and also Frode's white and grey one. Børge sits in the middle front, hugging a little cousin.
Børge is proud of his fit mamma. He still is. Mamma is still skiing, at the age of 80+. At least she did last winter. I don't know about this winter mamma, do you have any plans.......
I asked Marta and her friend on Saturday: "How do you like this?"
Marta's friend: "I love it. This is so much better than sitting home, watching television!"
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