Uff Da! What's Happening in Midnight Sun?

By Karen Ganger

Life is interesting in picturesque Midnight Sun, Minnesota. With its' Northern European old-world charm and architecture, the community provides plenty of ambience, thanks to the senior citizens preoccupied with maintaining cultural heritage and traditions.

During Thanksgiving week, a young girl, in pursuit of a strawberry ice-

• Language: English
• Publisher: URLink Print & Media, LLC
• Release date: Aug 5, 2021
• ISBN: 9781647537739

Karen Ganger

Karen Ganger lives with her husband near Seattle, Washington where her home is perched on a cliff over Puget Sound in sight of Mt. Rainier. Her career path included the medical field, retired casualty claims manager and historical archivist. She is an accomplished cook, gardener, traveler, cancer survivor, mother and grandmother. Her passion for over half a century has been to preserve cultural, historical and traditional recipes.

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Title Page

Uff Da! What’s Happening in Midnight Sun?

Copyright © 2021 by Karen Ganger. All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any way by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the author except as provided by USA copyright law.

The opinions expressed by the author are not necessarily those of URLink Print and Media.

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Published in the United States of America

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021907364

ISBN 978-1-64753-772-2 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-64753-773-9 (Digital)

17.03.21

Contents

Preface

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2

3

4

5

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9

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12

13

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About the Author

Also by the Author

The Prickleberry Pie Contest

The Gingerbread Jamboree

Fryin’ Pan Serenade and

Uff da! Summer Soltice at Midnight Sun

Preface

The term uff da is a common colloquialism in the American Scandinavian communities. Its origin is from the Norwegian language. Although it is attributed to the United States Upper Midwest area, it is used primarily where the population is largely concentrated having Scandinavian ethnicity. Much as the Hawaiian word aloha has several meanings, so does uff da . It is used in everyday speech as an exclamation for something good, something bad, something fun, something horrible. It can be used to express surprise, heavy exertion, exhaustion, relief, dismay, astonishment, pain, bafflement, confusion, or pretty much any life situation where a spontaneous comment is spoken.

1

Midnight Sun, Minnesota is a small Scandinavian enclave in the land of ten thousand lakes. Pioneered by Northern European immigrants in the nineteenth century, the town still remains true to its roots. Generally, it is a peaceful place and life; the atmosphere tends to be laid-back. That said, however, there are plenty of things always happening. The joys, excitement, problems, growth issues, and families are the same here as they are in the big city. The community is close and the population makes the best of whatever comes their way. Well, that was the way it had been until recently. It all started the day before Thanksgiving.

The alarm went off at 5:00 AM as Annika Halstrom woke up and sat on the edge of the bed. I’ve got to do this today, she muttered as she rubbed the sleep out of her ice-blue eyes. I guess I didn’t sleep too good last night. I feel blah. Telling and willing herself to get up and get dressed, she rose and threw on a pair of loose jeans. After putting her bra on, she pulled out a longsleeved red T-shirt and topped it with a blue sweatshirt bearing the name of Midnight Sun Organics. The wording curved around a bright yellow sun, and in the center, a green leaf seemed to float. She grabbed a pair of boot socks and followed by her pair of short brown leather boots; she pulled up the socks and stepped into them, making sure she had a nice fit.

Ready to do this, she told herself. She folded her nightgown and made the bed, putting the silky powder blue nightgown under her pillow where it would wait for her until tonight. She quietly left the bedroom and walked down the hall, passing her toddlers’ room. She went down the stairs and went straight to the mudroom where she slipped on a light jacket and began lifting boxes of fresh mini vegetables and baby salad greens. She put them in the back of her SUV and went in for another load.

Annika and her husband, Thor, had built a small greenhouse in their backyard. From that little greenhouse, she had started a nice little produce business as an aside. Her primary career was as an elementary schoolteacher. She hoped that as her family grew, she could spend more time with her family on this little business and garner more income. Today, she would be delivering the last of her seasonal vegetables to a few elite restaurants in Minneapolis. Last night, while her parents watched a movie with Little Thor, she had harvested French breakfast radishes along with round bright crimson Cherry Belle radishes, small green onions, baby beets, small baby potatoes known as steamers, and those lovely little carrots, Thumbelinas. She had cut, harvested, and washed a mélange of salad greens. Boxed beautifully, she added freshly cut herbs, the last of the season. Variegated lemon thyme, German thyme, rosemary sprigs, chervil, flat-leaf Italian parsley, and sage were all arranged in a circular fashion in a small flat box, then she added to the center of the herb wheel, freshly cut parcelle, an herb that tastes like a cross between parsley and celery. She knew the chefs would really love that.

Once the produce was secured in the back of her vehicle, she went back into the house and made her way to the kitchen. I think I’ll just have a piece of toast and a cup of tea and then get him ready, she decided. She filled the electric kettle with fresh water and turned it on. A piece of rye bread was popped into the toaster, and she grabbed a small plate. She sat down at the kitchen table for a minute to collect her thoughts. The toast sprang up, and she rose to pull it out of the toaster. She plopped the hot piece onto her plate, turned to place it on the table, and then turned around again, pulling a tea bag out of a canister. She reached for the upper cabinet to grab a mug and suddenly felt a little loopy. I think I need something to eat, she wishfully thought to herself. The kettle was finished, and she poured hot water into the mug, dunking her tea bag a few times. She took it to the table and sat down where she stared at the toast plate for a few moments. She put in two spoons of sugar into her tea and stirred it up, then focused on the toast. A pot of strawberry jam sat on the center of the table. She lifted the lid and took a healthy spoonful of jam and slathered it on her toast. She looked at it momentarily and then took a big bite. Oh yeah, that’s good! Demolishing the toast, she took a big swig of tea. Ah! That hit the spot, she told herself.

While finishing her tea, she made Little Thor a few baggies of treats. She had a baggy of graham crackers, a baggy of baby carrots, a baggy with toddler sausages that she had fingered out of a small jar. He really loved those. She sliced half a banana into a baggy and then proceeded to prepare a couple of bottles—one of milk and the other with apple juice diluted with a little coconut water. That apple juice is way too sweet otherwise. Now I’ll just stick these in the insulated bag and place it next to my purse. She walked back to the mudroom placing the insulated bag, her purse, her business carryall, making sure her tablet was charged and ready to go. She then focused on getting Little Thor’s diaper bag ready with extra clothes, washups, lotion, tissues, pull-ups, and a few toys to keep him occupied. This was going to be quite an adventure today taking him to the Twin Cities. All spring and summer, her mother had watched Little Thor when she had made her deliveries, but today, her parents were unavailable, and she knew her sister would need to be at work. There was no one to watch him. Her husband, Big Thor, needed to be at the fire station today. This was going to be the first Thanksgiving since they were married that he would be off, so she did not want to mess that up. It was hard enough that his schedule was twenty-four hours on and twenty-four hours off, but this year, the timing was perfect.

Annika glanced at the kitchen clock and realized she had fifteen minutes to hit the road. It took two hours to drive to the Twin Cities, and the restaurants she was delivering to accepted set delivery hours only. She needed to get there in a limited time window. She went up the stairs to get Little Thor ready for the trip. She could hear him talking and singing to himself. She loved listening to his early morning banter. She cracked the door open as silently as she could to get a peek of him without knowing he was being observed. It lasted for about a second. He stood up in his crib with the biggest smile on his face. His eyes sparkling as he said, Mama!

Oh. What a good boy you are, Little Thor! She rushed into his room and lifted him out of the crib, giving him a huge hug, then placing him on the dressing table. She cleaned him up, putting on fresh pull-ups and freshly laundered clothes. We’re going on a trip today! We need to dress warm, okay? she told him, and he smiled as though he understood everything she said. Once he was ready, she lifted him up and placed him on her hip. Annika reached into the crib to pick up his empty nightly bottle. Let’s go downstairs now. He babbled as they went down the stairs, and they went into the kitchen. She placed him in his high chair and poured some cereal into his suction cup bowl firmly attached to the high chair tray. She gave him a handful of raisins, a handful of oat cereal, and a tippy cup filled with milk. You hurry up and eat that! We have to go soon. She watched him as he gingerly picked up the oat cereal with a pudgy finger and his thumb.

Plopping them into his mouth, he hummed approval and then did the same with the raisins.

Annika turned around and picked up her toast plate and mug from the table. She rinsed off the plate along with his nightly bottle and placed them in the dishwasher. She made herself another mug of tea for the road and took it to the mudroom. Mommy will be right back. She picked up his snack bag, her purse, business carryall, and mug of tea and took them out to the SUV. She started the engine to let it warm up a few minutes and then rushed back into the house to make sure Little Thor was all right.

After taking a warm wet washcloth to his face and hands, she put on his jacket and hood. Are you ready to go? she asked him. He still smiled at her. Oh my god, you are so cute. His little pearls of sparkling white front teeth were shining in her face. She gave him a big bear hug and picked him up. Let’s go, she said as they headed toward the mudroom. She picked up his little snuggly blanket and a plastic army man he loved to play with. They stepped out of the house and walked toward the SUV. She opened his passenger door and deftly placed him in his car seat, snapping everything into place. You’re locked in now! We can go, bye-bye, she said as she waved her hand.

She walked to the other side of the vehicle and got into the driver’s seat. Brrr! It’s really cold outside, Little Thor. She put on her seat belt, looked into the rearview mirror, and started backing out of the driveway. The interior was warm, but she didn’t want to make it any warmer than necessary. All she could think about was hoping the vegetables would not wilt. We’re going to keep the car cool. Little Thor, you tell Mommy if you get cold or too hot, okay?

She looked back at the house, trying to remember if she had locked the back door. Yes. Check. Vegetables in the car? Check. Purse and business accoutrements? Check. Diaper bag? Check. Little Thor? Check. Full tank of gas? Check. Gauges okay? Check. Sister still home? Check. Hmmm.

When Annika and Thor announced their engagement, her twin sister, Danika, and Thor’s brother, Bjorn, announced their engagement, Annika’s parents, the Hansens, were so happy a double wedding was to take place that they built a two-story duplex as a wedding gift for their daughters. Neither of them knew about it until the day of the wedding. The four of them just thought that after their honeymoons, they would return to the boys’ apartments to live. At the wedding reception, Harald Hansen presented each couple with a set of keys to their new home. It didn’t matter which side they wanted to live in. They were both mirror-image identical. As it turned out, if you pull up to the residence, Annika lives on the left side and Danika on the right. They lived closed enough but far enough to have their own married lives. It was perfect. Thor and Bjorn were happy about that too.

Yes, Danika was still home by the look of it. Bjorn must be at the firehouse since his truck was gone. Both Thor and Bjorn worked for the Midnight Sun Fire Department. He’ll probably be off tomorrow for Thanksgiving too. A good thing, Annika thought, since the Halstroms were hosting the Thanksgiving dinner this year. Thor and Bjorn had four other siblings; the Halstrom house would be total chaos. Mother Halstrom was somewhat old-school. It would be better to hang with your husband as arm candy than have to float around that house alone without protection.

Annika pulled out into the street and looked ahead. Putting the transmission into Drive, she pulled forward and hit the accelerator. Beautiful day so far for Minnesota, but so cold, she told Little Thor. Maybe it will warm up. What do you think?

After ten minutes, she hit the highway and headed for the Twin Cities. Little Thor was behaving himself, so far so good. About an hour into the drive, Little Thor fell asleep. His little head was leaning right toward the window. He must have drifted off while looking outside. The wind was picking up, and Annika felt she was lucky enough to have a tailwind. Better than coming from the side where she needed to correct the drift. Maybe I’ll arrive sooner, she thought with a giggle. That’s when she realized she had a case of heartburn. Oh, that toast and jam must have done it. She took another swig of tea and looked back at Little Thor. He was still asleep. She looked out the rearview window and saw that the sky turned black. It was looking pretty ominous. She realized a storm front was chasing her to the Twin Cities, and she noticed that the outside temperature was dropping. A little anxiety was building now. Her heartburn had escalated to horrible. She needed some antacids in the worst way. Only a half hour left to go. As she traveled down the highway and closer to her destination, she realized the storm front had caught up with her. The clouds were all around her, and as she approached the Twin Cities, she couldn’t quite make out the buildings.

The clouds had enveloped everything, and the windshield was now catching misty rain.

Little Thor woke up and he was crying, which prompted Annika to reach over and open his snack bag. She pulled out the baggy of graham crackers and then took the graham crackers in her right hand and reached backward, trying to give them to Little Thor. Oh, this is ridiculous! Safety at all costs. She pulled over on the highway and placed the vehicle in Park. She unbuckled her seat belt and semipulled herself over toward the back. Here you go, little man. Mommy has graham crackers and juice. Little Thor took the graham crackers, then grabbed the bottle of juice. He seemed to be appeased for now. Annika moved back into her seat, clasped the seat belt, turned on her left-turn signal, checking traffic, hit the accelerator, and zoomed back onto the highway.

By now, it was crazy rain. Rain was blowing with high winds and zigzagging every which way. At least in downtown, with the high-rise buildings, maybe we’ll get some shelter, she thought. In ten minutes, they arrived at the first destination. Pulling up to the back door in the alleyway, she hit the brakes and put the vehicle into Park. She exited the vehicle, though with the vehicle door open, and pressed on the buzzer on the restaurant’s back door. The wet wind was blowing into the vehicle. She was afraid Little Thor would get cold. When the help opened the door, she explained she had her baby in the car.

Not a problem, he said. Just open the back and tell me what to take.

Okay.

She reentered the vehicle and popped the back hatch and simultaneously turned the heater to high. She exited and walked to the back of the SUV where she pulled the boxes out. She slipped back into the vehicle and turned over the packing list paperwork. Pierre, sign right here and I’ll get out of your way. Thanks! We’ll be sending the invoicing next week at the end of the month. I’m so sorry I had to do it this way. I didn’t have a babysitter.

No problem. I know the feeling. You do what you have to do. You will be providing produce again in the spring? We love the quality and the variety of your goods. No one else gives us the vegetables and herbs like you do, Annika. Thanks for coming today.

Well, I wondered if you would want this because of the holiday tomorrow. I wasn’t sure, so that’s why I called. We will make your delivery anytime, I can assure you. I will be calling you to advise when next season’s delivery starts again. Pierre, please have a wonderful holiday season. And thank you! The next time my husband and I will be in the city, we will come for dinner. I promise.

"Oui! Anytime. I will be waiting for you. Au revoir. He clasped her hand and placed his other hand on top of hers. Thank you!"

Pierre took the last box and closed the back door. Annika jumped into the driver’s seat and slicked back her hair. It was wet from the rainy mist now. I’m so sorry, Little Thor. It’s too chilly out there. We have one more stop, then we can go home, okay?

She sat behind the wheel and, for a moment, thought she was going to be sick. I better turn down the heat, she told herself. Maybe it’s too hot in here. Two more blocks, one more delivery. She put the vehicle into gear and wheeled to the back door of Skye, the last restaurant. After turning off the engine and exiting the vehicle, she walked over to Little Thor’s door and opened it; she picked up the contraption she called the baby backpack that was lying on the floor. Unbuckling Little Thor from his car seat, she started to pick him up and place him in the backpack when she noticed his face. She started laughing, and then Little Thor started laughing as well. He had graham cracker and juice goo all over his face, and his whitey blond hair was sticking up on end. He was so cute and irresistible she couldn’t help but laugh. She reached into the diaper bag and pulled out the washables, wiping his hands and face. Let’s start over, she told him.

After cleaning him up, she strapped him into the baby backpack and installed it on herself. He was now attached papoose style to her back and was smiling from ear to ear. He grabbed her ponytail and pulled it, squealing, Mama! Though she admonished him, he continued on. Annika rang the restaurant’s buzzer, and when the door opened, she went in. Business was transacted along with all the social niceties that take place when you are among friends.

Paul and Amy Spicer were friends of Annika and Thor. They had gone to college together. After graduation, they realized that what they really wanted to do was to open a restaurant. Two years later, they opened Skye. Annika and Thor thought that this was a perfect situation to form a partnership. Annika would supply them with some of the best organic vegetables and herbs. The Spicers were more than willing to accept. Periodically, the couples spent time with one another; however, it had been months since they had visited. Little Thor was only an infant then. So when they saw Little Thor, they laughed. They played with him and giggled and told Annika that Little Thor was a little mini-me of Thor. You’ve got that right! This kid is a little bruiser, let me tell you. Look at that face. He is the cutest thing. But he is big and heavy for his age. Look at that barrel chest of his. I think he’ll be bigger than Thor. I can barely lift him now. But you know, he is the happiest little guy. He’s never a problem. And with that comment, they all heard the biggest explosion coming out of Little Thor’s pants.

Well, I think you have a problem now! Paul let out a hearty belly laugh.

Oh my gosh! Annika sighed and sucked in her breath. I can’t walk around a restaurant kitchen like this. Pew! He stinks! We’ll be contaminating your kitchen with E. coli. Oh, I’m so sorry.

Not a worry. Here, take him into the office and you can change him in there, Amy said. Do you want me to get your diaper bag?

Oh, could you? It’s on the right side behind the front seat. It’s sitting on the floor in front of his car seat. Oh, I’m sorry for the trouble. Annika went into the office and started to unstrap the baby backpack from her being. She maneuvered him onto a blanket across the leather sofa and was able to get him laid down. Little man, you stink to high heaven.

Just as she complained, Amy walked in with the diaper bag. Whew! He’s fragrant beyond belief. Wow.

Again, Amy, I am so sorry. As Annika started to strip his pants and pullup off, she started to gag. Oh, no! Her face had turned to a horrible shade of green. A hot sick feeling came over her, and a momentary look of panic came across her face.

Amy could foresee what was going to happen. She rushed next to the desk and pulled out a wastebasket and held it to Annika, who promptly threw up into the can. Little Thor looked on as though this was a common occurrence. Then he started to giggle. Amy had a big smile on her face.

You think that’s funny? Oh, you’re Thor’s kid all right. That’s pure gold right there. Oh damn, it really smells in here. Just like your daddy did in college. Amy chuckled.

Annika looked at her weakly. "Yeah, tell me about it. Uff da. I’ve never done that before. I am so embarrassed.

Don’t worry about it. Anybody could throw up with that smell. Frankly, I don’t know how you do it. Good thing Paul and I don’t have kids. I don’t know who has the weaker stomach, me or him. If our kid pooped his pants, I think Paul would run screaming from the room. I’d have to take care of it. Both girls laughed.

Paul opened the office door and popped his head in. His hand was waving the stink away from his nose. I took the liberty of removing the produce from the back of your SUV. I hope that was all for us!

Yep. When I get done here, I’ll get out the paperwork. Annika was finishing up with Little Thor and pulling up a clean pair of pants on him. Can you remind me where the bathroom is? I need to wash my hands.

Sure. Let me take Little Thor while you clean up. Amy picked up the toddler. My goodness, you weigh a ton. Paul, feel this kid. He’s solid. I don’t know how she does it.

Paul took him out of her hands and marched him into the kitchen. Look at this! Look at this. He was showing him all around the kitchen. Is Little Thor hungry? Do you need something to eat?

Little Thor pointed to some carrots that had been prepped. Paul picked one up and gave it to him. He noticed that he gummed the carrot.

Aw, do your toothies hurt? Are your little gums sore? Does Uncle Paul need to rub some nice rum on them to make them feel better? Paul laughed when he saw Annika come out of the bathroom. He wanted a carrot, so I gave him one. Is that okay?

Yeah, a carrot is fine, but I don’t know about the rum gum massage. She cracked a weak smile.

Oh yeah, that’s right. You live in Midnight Sun. He’d probably be more appreciative of some nice aquavit.

Oh, you’re a bad boy, Paul Spicer!

Yes, Amy chimed in. Paul Spicer is a real bad boy, isn’t he, Little Thor? Don’t you trust Uncle Paul. He’ll get you in trouble.

More trouble than that big poopy mess you made? He looked at Little Thor with a grin. He bounced him up and down while Little Thor giggled.

You’ll both be in a poopy mess. Like I said, don’t trust Uncle Paul, Amy told the toddler.

Hey, can you and Little Thor stay for lunch?

Well, I don’t know. I think I’m not really feeling too good, especially now since I lost my breakfast. I need to make a couple of gift shop stops before I go home. I was planning to pick up something for my mother-in-law. I wanted to give her a little something. We’re going there for dinner tomorrow. You know, Mother Halstrom is not the friendliest person around.

Yeah, boy howdy, do we remember! Hey, if you’re still a little peaked, why don’t you go out and pick up your gifts? We’ll watch Little Thor for you and then you can come in and have a nice bowl of soup with a fresh baked roll. I know how tough it is to run an errand when you’re not optimum. Go, do what you need to do, come back, have lunch, then head on home. Don’t worry, we’ll take good care of him.

That’s too much to ask.

No, it isn’t. Just go and enjoy the few precious moments alone.

Well, I guess, since you put it that way.

Annika left Skye and walked down to a tall building. She entered and then began her quest. This Minneapolis is like a human habit trail. You can walk from building to building without ever going outside, she thought. This will make it so much easier rather than lugging a stroller and pushing. I can just focus on what I need to get.

An hour later, she was lunching with Paul and Amy. Little Thor was calmly sitting on Paul’s thigh. This is what I really needed, an excellent warming bowl of soup. These rolls are fantastic! Do you get them at a bakery?

Are you kidding me? We make everything here, Amy said. Those rolls are my babies! I’ve taken over the baking aspect of the house now.

Wow, they really are delicious!

Well, we’ll send you home with some. Thor might like them.

Oh, everybody will like them! Annika smiled. I really need to shove off. We have a two-hour drive home, and Thor will be off tonight. Do you know this is the first Thanksgiving in five years that he will be off? I’m so excited. Excited he will be off, not that we will be going to his mother’s house for Thanksgiving tomorrow.

Hey, I know the feeling. Every time we go to Amy’s parents’ house, I can feel the daggers come out of her mother’s eyeballs. One time, I think she really gave me the evil eye. I suddenly had this intense pain in my head, and I thought it was going to explode. Paul put his hands around his throat and then pulled them away, dramatically giving the effect like a burst coming off his shoulders.

Oh come on! You had brain freeze. We were eating ice cream.

That wasn’t brain freeze. You don’t know. You didn’t feel it. And I said at the time I felt like somebody just stabbed me in the head, like somebody was trying to kill me. The second I said that, your mother cackled so loudly everybody in the room jumped. His mahogany brown eyes were wide-open.

Scared me to death!

That’s not true. My mom didn’t do that.

Oh yes, she did. Then I made the remark that somebody was trying to hoodoo me with some voodoo, and I felt there was bad juju in the room. Then your mom said, ‘Juju, my eye’ and I said, ‘I thought that’s where it was coming from.’ At that point, she said, ‘I was kookoo,’ and I responded, ‘Your eye, bye-bye!’ I told Amy I was leaving and I did.

You did not leave.

Yes, I did. You don’t even remember. I know how I felt. I wasn’t wanted there.

What a liar! You are wanted there. How do you come up with this stuff?

All I’m saying is that, that really happened. You don’t even remember!

Hey, you two! Quit arguing in front of the baby. Little Thor and I need to hit the road.

"Oh yeah, sorry, Annika. Sorry, Little Thor.