Departure from Trondheim

June 29, Tuesday

Departure day is here.  We had another delicious smorgasbord breakfast and left for the Hurtigruten ferry terminal at 10 a.m.  We said our heartfelt goodbyes and we boarded the MS Richard With, our eyes glistening.  After finding and moving into our cabin we walked to the bow of the ship.  Looking below to the dock, we saw Torgeir and Heidi standing awaiting our departure.  They stood there, more than an hour, until our ship left, waving goodbye until we disappeared from view.

Goodbye

Our cabin

On our walk about, we spot Torgeir and Heidi waiting for ship departure.

Goodbye good friends and beautiful Trondheim

I do not have the words to describe our feellings for Heidi and Torgeir.  They played such a pivotal and supportive role in the success and rich experiences of this trip, not only for Barb and me, but for our whole family.  Unselfish, giving, loving, hardworking, friendly, fun, interesting, and continuing to live, strive and learn are some of the descriptions that come to mind.

Before Kari’s wedding in 2012, we had not met Heidi and we had met Torgeir only once, for a short time at his father’s home in 1973.  Torgeir and I sat on the Vollset patio and drank a beer, discussing in his fluent English, music (Dylan and the Beatles) and politics (Watergate and the Viet Nam War).  On our return to the US, we sent a Christmas card every year to his wonderful parents, Gunnar and Anny, who had been so welcoming to us during our stay in Trondheim/Selbu.  We regularly received a card from Gunnar during those years.  On our Christmas card in 2006 I wrote a letter to Gunnar again thanking him for his hospitality in 1973 that made our visit so memorable and for his friendship over the years.  I wished him well in his declining health and I including my email address at the bottom of the letter in case any of his family wants to keep in touch via that manner.  It is amazing how the incidental inclusion of that email address has enriched our lives.  A month later I received an email from Torgeir, our first communication since 1973, stating that his father had died and that Torgeir hoped that we would stay in touch.  Thus, through the email, a new and lasting friendship was reborn.  Torgeir and I emailed often.  I find him to be a person who is very open and approachable.  We went on to discuss books read and recommended, music enjoyed, trips undertaken, a bit of politics, religion and spirituality.  I found myself able and willing to communicate with him open and freely and Torgeir’s response was usually soon and detailed.  We both enjoy reading a wide range of genre, music, plays, and concerts, and studying the variety of practices of spirituality.

So, in January 2012, I encouraged Kari to send a  wedding “Save the Date” card to Torgeir and Heidi.  I followed it up a week or so later with an email stating that it is now an American custom to send out these cards and that we would be overjoyed if they could attend, but that he and Heidi were under no obligation to come.  Within a few days we received an email back from Torgeir that they would like to come.  They were wonderful guests, staying in a hotel in Tacoma until after the wedding, then staying at our home four days.  We traveled to the mountain, spent a day in Seattle, but mostly talked, ate, and shared. 

And now they have enriched our lives again.  Torgeir and Heidi readily assisted in the trip’s planning, coordinated the activities in Selbu, and hosted our family for several days.  All was done with grace, warmth, and kindness.  They are such special people and they have been so good to us and for us.  I only wished they lived just down the street.