Happy B-Day Norway!

May 17, 2007 |

Today it’s the 17th of May. Norways constitution day. Basically it was a bunch of rich folks, army officers, and a few farmers and priests who gathered on a farm in Southern Norway, elected a Danish prince as king, wrote a constitution, and hey presto, Norway was nation again… for a few dramatic summer months.

Norway had been in a union with Denmark for over 400 years. The period is known as the 400 year night, after some poet called it that. The Swedes was not to fond of having Norway as a free nation again, and they wanted it. So war was declared, and after some dramatic events, Norway ended up with a Swedish King, but we kept the constitution. Hence the 17th of May is our national day. We finally got our independence in 1905, when the Swedes got tired of trying to keep us. But that’s another story.

Anyway, like Thailand we are still a monarchy, and we love our King, well most of us at least respect him…in our own special way.

When a Thai friend gave me one of those “I Love The King” yellow plastic bracelets, I gladly accepted. I just did not tell him what King I had in mind.

I actually think Norway is well off having a King as head of state. As long as the people that actually decide things are elected by the people. That’s why we have prime ministers and such. Anyway, you can get a good look at our king today if you are in Oslo, as he will spend the day on the balcony of the Royal Castle, waving at the children’s parade. He will be the dude wearing a penguin suit, white gloves and a top hat.

Meanwhile in Isaan, Nan is totally ignorant of what an important day in world history this is. She was to busy cleaning my dirty laundry that I left in her wonderful care when I was there. Later she plans to break out my fishing rod and have her youngest son teach her how to use it. We spent a good deal of time down by the river on my last visit fishing, and her boys liked it.

Happy 17th of May folks!

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