The Museum of Viking Lore

Turid thought that Sunday was the day that would be ideal for Kaelen to meet  5 more cousins. She planned a morning of seeing a collection of Viking artifacts on display at the History Museum in Oslo. Her 5 grandchildren are Mats (14) Caroline (12), Ella (10), Theodore (8) and Anika (6). We met at her flat in the Ullern district of Oslo and took the tram into the center of Oslo and walked to the Museum.

The Museum system is being reorganized in Oslo. A new museum/gallery complex is being constructed in the center of the city. Many of the paintings that are currently in the National Gallery will be moved to the new location along with artifacts from the history museum. In the current exhibit, we viewed examples of crafts and weaponry that were a thousand years old. Here were also runes and jewelry, a Viking battle helmet (without horns please!).

The history lessons embedded in the visit were interesting, but clearly the reason for the event was so that the cousins could meet one another. Each of the Norwegian cousins has a delightful and distinct personality. Mats is clearly the “glue” that holds the crew together. He is watchful of the younger ones and a thoughtful presence among them. His sister Caroline is reserved, a careful observer; a bit shy to use her English. Ella is energetic and animated. Her brother Theodore is  a free spirit., always looking for the humor in any instance. Anika is resourceful, able to keep up with her siblings and cousins. (She engaged me in coloring some patterns with her glitter markers.)

We were a awesome group wending our way through the museum, to an ice cream shop and finally back to the tram for luncheon at Turid’s.

Kaelen met the challenge of getting to know these 5 distinct personalities. Ella and Theodore seemed most interested  in accompanying Kaelen through the exhibits and playing with the stuff Turid has in her flat for the grandchildren. The luncheon was lovely. Seeing the children seated together around the table was quite amazing.

Kaelen had made a “play date” with Nikolai at 4:00, so we left Turid’s brood in time for that.  These cousins share a bit of heritage as well as their lovely eyes, their interest in learning about the world, their youthful energy. I hope that Kaelen and her brothers Ryan and Sean (and Emma Rita and Molly) and all her cousins will have many opportunities to inter-act in this increasingly small world. There is so much they can teach one another and learn from one another. 

And much to teach the chaperones!