It’s been ten years since Olav V, Norway’s king for thirty-three years, passed away quietly after a long period of illness. I was brand-new to Norway then. I’ve never seen anything like the grief a whole nation expressed for the chubby guy, either before or since.
If there’s a life after this, Laffen, I hope you’ve found it filled with broad calm seas to sail on, and mountains criss-crossed by silky-smooth ski trails.
It’s not even remotely logical, but there really is something about having a monarch as head of state - I guess it’s the continuity, but I can’t pin the emotion down.
BTW, I heard that the Norwegian Crown Prince just declared his engagement to a single mother - THAT rocks!
But I can’t help feeling a bit sorry for you, if your introduction to Norway was a state funeral.
S. Norman
I’d like to look half as good as this dude at age 80 (assuming I get there, which is far from certain).
I understand the grief was genuine and that he was really well liked.
I remember what my (British) wife told me about Olav V–how he used to ride on public transportation just like everyone else in Norway. My wife’s Norwegian friends couldn’t understand why she was so surprised at this–well, can you imagine sitting next to Prince Philip on the Underground?