FROM ROCKING TO LIMPING-NORWAY-MY WAY

                                         

Well, so it is morning!!! I started yesterday with singing but
I'm starting today with tears. While drinking coffee I checked my e-mail. So happy to hear from SISTERS...until I read the message:
"Annie we have disappointing news. Remember Nicklas insisted we take his credit card with us on the trip to Norway. Well, we used it until we got to Stavanger.  Now Nicklas sees on his bill that $3,000 was charged to his account that we didn't spend.  He finally got it straightened out, but now we are worried about you...Be careful. We have no idea how this happened...but please be careful. Looking forward to seeing you soon. Love, Eve and Asta."


I felt so bad for them. I could never explain that I don't carry a credit card. Everything has been prepaid before I even left 
Memphis with $-monopoly-$ money. But I am anxious to tell Henry about this. He will be so sorry.
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I recognized Henry's knock on the door.He came in for coffee and a pastry before we left the ship to walk in Harstad. We would have well over an hour there.
I told all about the e-mail from SISTERS. 
"Henry, you are so carefree. Are you watching your own charge card carefully??"
"Miss Annie, my card is secure at all times."
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The subject was changed as we saw Harstad together. This church was particularly interesting and beautiful. Glad we got 
to go inside.


TRONDENES CHURCH -HARSTAD
6:45-8:00 am
 13th century church in Harstad
PULPIT IN CHURCH
     Northern most medieval stone church in Norway.Harstad Church                                                                       Culture building

Harstad 3,808 residents


When we got back on board we went to the cafe for a hot breakfast.  We resumed our earlier conversation.


"I hope I'm not being inquisitive, Miss Annie, but what about you and your credit card.  I never see you using it!!?


I answered that I don't carry a credit card. The Grand Hotel, the Bergen rail ride, this cruise are all paid for back in Memphis by check.  I only carry a little Norwegian money in my purse. Except for a hamburger in Oslo and some food on the train, I have had all my meals either at the hotels or on this ship" He might be like an 8 yr old, but he could NEVER understand about my Monopoly money!!
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I didn't see Henry the rest of the day. The passengers sort of clung together all day as we moved from one beautiful and interesting place to another.


FINNSNES 11:15-11:45 am
City hall .Town square                     


SENJA ISLAND
v


Several times we saw Northern Lights on this cruise. Such splendor. What exactly are the northern lights? They happen when large numbers of electrically charged particles at high speed stream in towards the earth along its magnetic field and collide with the highest air particles. Then the air lights up rather like what happens in a fluorescent light tube.. 

TROMS & TROMSO


 Apartment bldg. on stilts                       
It was surprising not only to see reindeer walking around town, but men sharply dressed in business suits
attending various meetings in Tromso.
    TROMSO-Paris ot the north, Norway


65,000 POPULATION** 250 MILES NORTH OF THE ARCTIC CIRCLE**GATEWAY
TO THE ARCTIC. In 19th century, Russian, British, Dutch and German ships came here to begin arctic hunting trips for whales, walruses, and seals.


Home to northern most brewery, university and cathedral. 


The sun does not rise between November 21 and January 21The highest number of wooden houses in Norway.*****************
When the ship left around 7:30, it was dark.   We went to the 8 o'clock seated dinner. No Henry. No Rachel. I ate and smiled at the Germans who smiles back at me!!
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Still September 14. Today went on forever and I thought it was over. I was standing on the balcony wrapped in a blanket, when I heard a soft tap on the door around 9 pm. "Miss Annie." It was Henry. He just wanted to talk a little. He wanted to hear about my grandchildren; could I ever think of him as one of them? I nodded yes. 


He talked about his own grandmother and how she had raised him on a farm. She was poor--there was only money to leave him  after she died, and the farm was auctioned off. 


We talked a long time. He wondered if he could ever do something worthwhile in his life?


"Of COURSE, Henry., God is real!! And with His HELP you can have a wonderful life." We hugged and I patted his shoulder. Then he was gone.


                              
So today I went from rocking to limping... but tomorrow is a new day and the last day on the cruise North.

Love, annie
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