Senior Daze

by Katie Bourg

About Katie: Having arrived in time for the Great (?) Depression, WWII, and all other 20th century problems, I am endowed with long and varied memories. Writing classes have long been my home away from home. Other people's stories are fascinating, and sharing is growth at its best. Hope you seniors will join me with your stories. Try it. You'll like it.

The Everett Norwegian Male Chorus held their 2012 Songerfest on Saturday, June 15. I attended with a friend, and it was a very enjoyable program. I don't know a word of Norwegian, but music is a universal language, and I loved it.

The Pacific Coast Norwegian Singers Association (PCNSA) is just one chapter of a much larger organization. They sing their hearts out all up and down the Pacific coast. A different group hosts the others every year.

Steve Jensen is the leader of the Everett group, and is very good at what he does (including making cookies). His wife accompanies the group. This year she added a bit of fun by playing the part of a cat looking for a nice mouse meal. She does a great "Meow."

The Everett group started in 1902. Ole Dale, Dick Dale's grandfather, joined in 1907. Olaf, Dale, and his father joined in 1927. Dick's son, Mike, was their leader, and Dick joined in 1987. He became his son's assistant leader, and continued in that role for 27 years. He only recently resigned, due to eye problems. He still attended the program this year.

A lot of people around Marysville know Dick. He taught most of their kids, and for nearly 20 years he's led the Stilly Singers.

The first Norwegian Male Chorus started in 1845, and the first Songerfest was held in June 1851, in Asker, Norway. By 1858 the first chorus was established in America. By 1886 there were enough groups formed to establish a Singer's Association (Sangerforbund). The first group on the Pacific Coast was formed in Portland, Oregon in 1878. The first Songerfest on the West Coast was hosted by the one-year-old group in Everett, WA in1903. They have a long history, and are still singing.

It was a nice evening, I'm glad I went. You might want to look into it next time. And if you are a singer, you might enjoy becoming one of them. They are not all Norwegians anymore.

Summer is here, somewhere. Every time I get ready to enjoy, it disappears again. My geraniums have missed their 7-day feeding because of the rain. But they are turning red and white anyway. I think summer is out there.