Norwegian pride…

Today is October 12, the traditional Columbus Day. Do you remember reciting as a child, “In Fourteen Hundred Ninety Two, Columbus Sailed the Ocean Blue?”

But wait! WES WESTLUND insists, “There is evidence the Vikings made the discovery.”

Westlund, a retired Navy chaplain and member of the Sons of Norway Lodge, said a Viking named Leif Erickson made the discovery in the late tenth century. Leif wanted to break away from his tyrannical father Eric the Red, so when he heard the saga of a land shrouded in mist, he organized a voyage, borrowed a Long Ship and headed west in about 990 A.D.

Wes traveled to Norway this summer to do research on Norwegians involved in the Resistance movement during World War II. Born in this country in 1928 to Swedish father Andrew and Norwegian mother Alma, he wanted to do research on his relatives and headed to the Resistance Museum in Oslo. They asked him to complete their forms and send them back. Research, done by just two people, could take a little time.

“Uncle Oluf was the head of one of these Resistance organizations, along with his eldest son Ola,” Wes said. “Cousin Gunnar was too young to handle a weapon, so they made him a sentry. They helped get Jews out of Norway to Sweden. Five percent of the Jews who went to the death camps were from Norway.

The Resistance even hid ammunition in a church organ. On one particular Sunday, 858 pastors stood together, each in his own church, to declare that they would not support the Third Reich. Their bishops were immediately arrested,” Wes explained.

Then the Nazis ordered teachers to begin the school day with, “Heil Hitler.” When they refused, over 1,000 teachers were imprisoned.

The Germans ordered him to prison for 10 years, but he survived.

Each year on May 8, Norwegians fly flags from their houses to commemorate the date in 1945 when Norway was liberated after five years of occupation by Nazi forces. It is their independence, or Freedom Day.

Medicine mix-ups…

Most people take more than one prescription but few check to see about possible drug interactions.

Fill a sack with all your medicines (prescription and non-prescription) and bring it to ISLAND DRUG in Oak Harbor on Oct. 18 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and at the South Whidbey store on Oct. 20 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This “Brown Bag” Medicine Review is being held in conjunction with American Pharmacist month said SARAH REINSTRA, Island Drug’s assistant director of marketing.

A pharmacist will be available for personal consultations to ensure each person is not using or storing expired medications and is not taking medications that, when taken together, could cause unwanted side effects.

“It is important to list the names of all the medicine you take and why you are taking them,” Reinstra noted.

Scary stuff…

JoANN (“Jo”) HELLMANN confesses Halloween is her favorite holiday. She dresses up each year, carves elaborate designs on pumpkins and even celebrates the birthday of her cat Buddy who turns 11 this Halloween. Did I mention he is a black cat?

This writer, publicist and community activist who works from home says the neighborhood kids look for her year after year in Springtree.

“Last year they danced in my driveway to Rocky Horror Picture Show,” she said. “This year, it’s Frrrright Night!”

Oh, the humiliation…

If God had meant for people to parallel park, he would have invented cars that fold in the middle. That thought came to me on a Sunday morning in front of DAVE’S BISTRO AND FINE DINING. People at the window tables, having already found their parking spots, laugh and point at the grannies, student drivers and people who own Lincoln Continentals for whom parallel parking is not their best event.

I seem to remember a planner suggesting that Pioneer be made a one-way street with nose-in parking. I have an old photo of downtown that shows this exactly.

It is unkind to make fun of people who are parallel-parking challenged. Just look away and eat your pancakes before they get cold.

Have twins, triplets?

Whidbey Island Mothers of Twins and Triplets will enjoy their monthly Mom’s Night Out at 6 p.m. tonight at the new Applebee’s. Please call 679-9110 for more info or to join the group.

See you on Oct. 19. Hope you’ll write to me at lifeonwhidbey@yahoo.com or call 675-6611 with your news. You may also read Life on Whidbey every Wednesday online at www.whidbeynewstimes.com.