The simple answer – Yes. What was I thinking? I remember why, it just seems rather silly as we get up at 2:30 am to leave Dilla's by 3:00 am and drive to Winnipeg so we can be there for 4:00 am, enough time to check in. Oh, and forgot to ask Dilla for the directions to get to the airport, going by memory isn't a good thing when just about everything is closed at 4:00 am. The police cruiser in the middle of the intersection looked promising until I thought about it, what if they were setting up a blockade, you don't really want to be asking for directions and have a shooting break out.
This wouldn't have been so bad if we had been getting lots of sleep for the past few days, but with the Islendingadagurinn going on, the heat & humidity of a Manitoba summer, we haven't really caught up on our beauty sleep after the 21 hour road trip. Can you spell CRANKY! When your default setting is close to cranky, it doesn't take much to tip it over the edge into full fledged BITCHY and lack of sleep is my #1 tipping point.
Monday, August 2nd was the big day of the Islendingadagurinn, starting with the parade at 10 am, and these are Icelanders, they started at 10 am sharp. We were close to the beginning to get a great view. The parade is a lot like other small town parades, except with a huge contingent of Shriners (this being close to Winnipeg). I wondered a lot about the future of the Shriners, and other groups like them – I don't think we saw anyone under 50 and I would think the average age is around 75. Who will take up the torch when they all pass on? I always think of these men's groups as little boys still playing in their forts with signs that say “Girls keep out”. I have to say, the Shriners have the best toys out of all the boys clubs I have seen.
Next were the races at the park. Each year they have races for children/adults where they start with “Under 2” and move up year by year. We went in these races when we were kids and sometimes we would win. The winnings were a few dollars and that helped you get money for the rides. Now they get a ribbon and everyone gets a freezie. Our cousin's granddaughters were in the 3 and under 2 categories – are we ever getting OLD.
Amma's Kitchen was doing the food at the pavilion and that will be another special posting just for Karina. We ended the day at our cousin's cottage (estate is more like it) for pizza and just good laughs. For all the excitement of the Islendingadagurinn, the real appeal was seeing family. Now that I am an adult with my own grown up children, I really get this. Getting a taste of your culture with your own family spin on the traditions is what makes it fun. Re-connecting to people who share your background and making your family a part of it is what keeps the stories alive. Embellishment is the whole point.
