Kurt Blorstad's Blog

Today is the day I have been waiting for since we arrived—we will be going to Vanse to see all the places my father talked about from his childhood. During the drive my father kept saying, “You know, I am sure things have changed a lot since 1945.” As we entered the town he had a wrinkled brow as he kept looking out the window. “So much has changed,” he said discouraged, shaking his head. “I think we need to take a right here and then a left.” We followed his directions and his eye...

Another day up and out the door early, but not before some wonderful pastries and coffee for breakfast. Torstein was a very gracious host and as I would soon learn, this was how everyone is in Norway, including people that we had never met before and those who were not family. We thanked him again and headed to see my dad’s cousin, Helen, and her husband, Roar, in Kristiansand. The view from their condo overlooking the water and Otterdalsparken Park was beautiful! Most of today’s c...

Happy 79th Birthday, Dad!

After another great breakfast at the hotel we were off to visit Torstein, one of my dad’s cousins. He lives in the town of Drangedal which is located about 120 kilometers southwest of Oslo. As you can imagine, all of the drives in Norway are scenic. We stopped at so many places along the way that what should have been a two-hour drive ended up being a ten-hour one, two of which were spent at a beautiful water-side lunch stop.

When we drove up to Torstein’s h...

[image error]

Today after breakfast there was a lot on our list of things to see and do. Here are a few of my favorites from Carol’s scrap book.

My father could not resist preaching a little to us while we were in the Stave Church. This of course made me think of Adam and Eve, then apples. We did manage to find a very fancy McDonald’s to eat lunch in and of course I had an apple pie for dessert. I always like when things go full circle.

After lunch we...

With customs behind us, we all climbed in the rental van and headed to the Vikingskipene, the Viking Ship Museum. Since the airport is northeast of the city, we took E16 heading south to E18 going through Oslo to Bygdoy where the museum is located. While driving, my father told us about the historic buildings in Oslo he and his brother Thoralf had seen while on their trip to the American Embassy after the war ended. The two buildings he talked about most were the...

[image error] My father carried this in his wallet for as long as I can remember. Today, as we boarded the plane, he held it in his hand.

I woke up full of energy ready to begin my journey into the past. To get there I would have to fly. Most importantly, I would need my father to join me—he was the key to unlocking everything. I had always imagined the places in Norway he had talked about when I was a child. With the help of a few pictures from his childhood a...

[image error]

 

The Journey Begins. 

20 years ago I planned my first trip to Norway with my father. My next several blog posts will be about each day of our trip to visit family, see where my father grew up and of course all the wonderful things Norway has to offer.

The post My Trip to Norway appeared first on Kurt Blorstad, Author.

[image error] Patience is a virtue.

I was told this a young man but have learned that patience is a necessity when producing a quality product. Occupied, my second book is testing my patience. It has been my lack of understanding about how things work in the publishing world that is the anchor slowing things down.

Fortunately I was given good advice and hired the right people that now make up Team Occupied. All of them have been very patient with me. Each team member has taken the time to explain why thei...

For my first blog I will be giving you some background about myself and then tell you what I have planned for my future blog posts. This way you will have an idea of where I am heading and should I get off track and you are one of my loyal readers please nudge me and say, “Hey, what’s up with your blog?”

I am married and have two wonderful daughters. They are more wonderful now than ever since they have both moved out. I miss them but still see them every week along with my Grandson. I actual...