Grandmother's Maids

Fru Andersen & Me

My grandmother was ill many years, and mostly bed-ridden for the last 20 years of her life.  She had several maids that came to help her keep house, and several young girls who would run errands for her.

One of the steadfast regulars was Fru Andersen, who lived across the hall from my grandparents.  The picture shows me visiting her in her little apartment in the early 90s.  Fru Andersen was a kind lady who was a real blessing in my grandmother's life.

Me and Solveig Nimmons

I also visited her daughter, Solveig, back in the 90s.  Solveig and her husband live in Jessheim, not far from the new Gardemoen Airport outside of Oslo.  As a little girl, Solveig would run errands for my grandmother and then get fed breakfast before heading off to school.  Solveig came and lived with our family in Phoenix, Arizona, for a year in the 1960s.

A Diplomatic Honor

One day in 1981, a big black American Embassy limousine, sporting Amercian flags, pulled up in front of Mauritz Hansensgate #4. 

The whole street was agog, with people peeking out of their windows at the sight!  Soon the doorbell rang.  Bestefar Einar opened the door, and to his surprise and amazement, there stood newly appointed American Ambassador Mark Evans Austad.  He was no stranger to Bestefar, as he had served as an LDS missonary many years before.  Seeing the surprise on my grandfather's face, Ambassador Austad took his hand and shook it warmly.  As he was ushered into stuen, he said, "I want you to know, Einar, I came to see you before I saw the King." 

Austad had a long and illustrious political career that included serving on presidential inaugural committees both times Richard Nixon was elected.  Next, he was appointed by President Gerald Ford as Ambassador to Finland.  In 1980, Austad served again on an inaugural committee, this time for Ronald Regan's first election, after which he was again appointed as a U.S. Ambassador, this time to his beloved Norway.  He served in Norway until 1984.  He died in Arizona four years later at the age of 71.  Norway's major newspaper, Aftenposten, once praised him as being the best U.S. Ambassador they ever had.

I love his tribute to Einar Strand.  It was an honor that deeply touched my Bestefar.