Christmas Greetings 2005 from
the Holmen Clan!
Greetings from the mother of the family!
Perhaps my most
significant event of this past year was to retire, at long last, from
teaching at Roberts High School, something I began for the second time
in 1983! It’s great to have a less structured schedule, and I’m
definitely not ready to look for more ‘ordered’ life just yet!
But, going back
to the beginning of 2005, I was teaching half days in Roberts... upper
level math.
March started with a visit by a
cousin, Andrew Kelling, and his wife, Teresa. I think he has the
distinction of being the first cousin to visit us in Red Lodge (hint -
hint). One of the days we visited the Buffalo Bill Museum in Cody
- considerably larger and more interesting than our last visit.
On the way back to Red Lodge, we saw a large dust cloud - raised by
70-80 elk. On the other side of the highway, a few elk were
disappearing over the top of a hill. A bit further on, we saw
they were part of a herd that numbered 300-400!
Easter found us
in Longmont, together as a family for what I hope remains a
tradition... tho it's not always easy for Maren to join us from New
York City.
Scandinavian folk dancing still
occupies part of my time. Besides leading the Scandinavian group
in Red lodge, a Sons of
Norway
Folkdance Workshop was held in Minot the end of March and I was asked
to be the instructor. Since it was the weekend following Easter,
I persuaded Maren that her expertise would be greatly appreciated (I
think she enjoys it as much as I do - especially being able to correct
her father!). We showed the Norway slide show again - this time
using a computer program called WATCHOUT, and video projectors.
Even after 5 years I have one
connection with the school in Red Lodge. The senior parents
requested that I do the graduation show again, which happened Memorial
Day weekend.
In May I
actually got to my first college class reunion... my 40th... at St.
Olaf. Cousin Shirley Bowden went with me, to see how things had
changed since SHE’D last seen the place in the late 60’s. It was
fun to discover that even former professors still knew me :-)!.
This year was the Year of Trips to
Minnesota:
Since March my mother has been
living with my youngest brother in Albertville. In June we
traveled to help with sorting, organizing, dividing, and cleaning
things in her house. Starting on Wednesday and with the help from
other family members (my mother has 4 sons), we were able to say
goodbye Saturday afternoon. Time of much reflection when seeing
things that have a lot of family history. It was fortunate that
she was able to take care of herself for so long - she was 97 in
March. The back of our van was full for the trip home and some
items are still in boxes, remaining "to get to it!"
The end of June
Bob and I drove to Washington for the first time in several years,
stopping to see old friends Doc and Ev Herries on the way. Doc
and Ev were ‘adopted’ grandparents to our girls all during their
‘growing up’ years, and part of the family birthday parties. We also
visited George and Jackie Hanke (the girls’ godparents) and relatives
Rick and Kristine Parducci on our way to fly from Vancouver, B.C.
to Anchorage, Alaska, to meet Kirsten and Manuel, who took Bob and me
on our very first cruise the first week in July... as well as our very
first trip to Alaska! When it was over, I knew I wanted to go
back to Seward, Alaska... and that having all my meals prepared for me
and my bed made every day were something I could grow to appreciate
:-)...
Back to Minnesota in July for the
Kelling family reunion - my mother's side of the family. It's
been held every year since 1963, although we haven't made every one.
The Sons of Norway lodges in Montana
hold a camp, called the Bjørnetann Cultural & Language Camp,
in the mountains south of Red Lodge in late July. The
program includes classes in folk dancing - so I was asked to do that
part. My students are of the less energetic type - more the
senior citizen group. Someone else had the high energy kids
group. Even so, some of my adults tried a Finnish sword dance
which involves some quick footwork.
August was the
usual Festival of Nations celebration and lefse making.
After a very poor performance
a year ago, the raspberry patch really outdid it self this past
August. Raspberries coming out of our ears! Raspberry jam,
raspberry pie mix, raspberries to give away. We gave away more
berries that what we kept. I've given up any thoughts of
expanding the number of rows!
The McGrath Class of 1960 held a
multiple class (1959, 60, 61) reunion in September. 45 years and,
man, all those classmates are sure looking older. Nice to see
everyone who could attend and to caught up with some of the latest news
- especially for us out-of-staters.
Soon after we got back to Red Lodge, exchange daughter Christiane (from
‘92-’93) came for a visit with her boyfriend Kai Arne. We were
even WITH them on a trip through Yellowstone Park when Kai Arne
proposed... which means we are planning another trip to Germany
this coming August.
October found us back in Minot for the Høstfest. This year
Princess Martha Louise of Norway was there, reading from her new
fairytale book, Why Kings
and Queens Don't Wear Crowns. I bought THREE copies and
had them autographed.
In November we made our annual trip to Longmont, Colorado, for
Thanksgiving with Kirsten and Manuel... with Maren flying in from New
York. It's great fun for me having Kirsten and Manuel in charge
of the turkey and accoutrements.
In between times, I’ve been working on scrapbooks, learning how
to knit, sorting through old books, tapes, pictures, etc. I
haven’t retired yet, however, from playing the piano or organ at church
nearly every week we are in Red Lodge. I hope we can involve more
and more youth in extra instuments and such.
Since being part of the
Scandinavian Group in Red Lodge, genealogy has been an interest of
mine. A project that I've been considering for a number
of years is finally underway. My mother has many, many
photographs of her family, her parent's families, etc. And
I've wanted to make copies for archival purposes and sharing with other
relatives. At first making copies photographically seemed to be
the way but looked like a huge task. Then computers
and scanners came along. It still takes time but is manageable -
and without the mess of film, paper, and chemicals. The end of my
mother's photos is in sight and photos of 2 uncles and 1 aunt were done
in September - then only 2 uncles left.
With one day to go before Christmas, we are all collected again as a
family in Red Lodge... including the furry members of the family.
We have loved all the cards and letters we've gotten so far. I
confess I'm always ESPECIALLY happy when you include e-mail addresses
with your information, as I am more and more addicted to e-mail as my
main source of communication. So... if you HAVE e-mail and are
willing to share your address, please send it to us at:
abholmen@wtp.net
Wishes for blessings for your New Year!
Bob and Andi
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