scandanavia blitz begins

copenhagen, home of hans christian anderson...expensive here...walked and walked today, save for a city tour by boat...uncovered, rained...but got to see a bunch and it wasn't crowded...some people were smart enough to stay in doors...the marble church...nothing special really...and the altar cloth was crooked...lula mae hall, who maintains same at providence umc would not have stood for that...the little mermaid is in shanghai, so didnt get to see her...kings gardens were magnificent, rosenborg castle and crown jewels also...castle not used by royals today...more access there with less security than any toured to date...also visited square of the royal residence, amalienborg palace....walked, walked....lots of antique shops today...bought zip

lunch was grand...an ear of roasted corn...that guy knew his business...lots of butter and salt...and when he handed it to me, also gave me a toothpick...in a plastic sleeve...awesome...gotta have one when you eat corn on the cob you know....chewed on the toothpick for about 2 hours...felt like eugene pickler...economics professor extraordinaire at pfeiffer. pickler was also a chicken farmer...used analagies from chicken farming for economics...since ma and gan had paynters egg farm...i could relate. wife janet ran the cultural program at pfeiffer. john branin worked in her office. i had 3 fish my freshman year...bought at walmart in albemarle...2 goldies, 22 cents each, and a beta...dwight was the greeter at walmart. beta ate one fish...john encouraged me to give gabrielle, the other 22 cent goldie, to mrs pickler for her tank in the ad building. rarely visited ole gabrielle. one day my senior year, i received, via campus mail, a card, obviously on nice stationary...twas from mrs pickler informing me of gabrielles demise...4 years for a 22 cent fish from walmart aint bad...and that a small, private ceremony...i think she said amazing grace was sung...was held in the ladies room in the basement of the administration building

forgot a couple twins...sunday morning...i left church about 30 minutes into it...jb martins twin...complete with yellow pants was coming in as i was going out...jb was almost always late for church...god rest his soul

grace miles, complete with cigarette holder, except this lady's was black, grace's was white...when i was a kid she would give me root beer lolly pops at bb&t...this was way back before the bank bought the warehouse, tore it down and added on...back when the loan officers were in cubes down the left side...she'd be on the telphone...rotary dial, 1970s green i think, smoking that cigarette...she was sexy...like joan collins on dynasty...and yes, i have told grace that though i didnt know it at 3, i thought she was sexy

and traudel williamson, mother of marget ballard...lady had on same outfit she did when we had brunch last month, white, from head to toe, 6 in heels...traudel and margets dad, joe, met in germany when he was in the service. he convinced her to come to the us...they married shortly thereafter and will celebrate 50 years of bliss next may...

afternoon snack at a deli...i am not starving afterall on this trip...husband wife team...she looked like carol channing...thought she would break out singing diamonds are a girls best friend at any moment...made me a scrumptious sandwich of salami, cheese, cucs, lettuce and tomatoes...toasted bread...i went across the street while she was making it to buy a beer, to wash it down with...she wrapped the bread in white paper...not waxed, just white paper, 2 paper towels, all together with a rubber band....service...floor was brick with sawdust...reminded me of the meat department in norlina at the red and white 37 years ago...raymond robertson ran the butcher shop...durwood johnson managed and i think aa wood was involved...but i may have that confused with the warrenton red and white...gan and i delivered eggs every thursday am...he'd pick me up at 530...i stood on the seat of the pick up beside him...stops i remember, in addition to the red and whites were alstons store on 1001, odell's grill, across from warren general hospital, the hospital, a&p

tonight's overnight train takes me to oslo...i will have to stay awake long enough to at least see the sea we cross by ferry