Editor’s Notes
We wish you a happy Halloween!
Photo: Colourbox
Step by step, life is returning to normal.
LORI ANN REINHALL
Editor-in-chief
The Norwegian American
Dear readers and friends,
There is always a first for everything, but it may come as somewhat a surprise, that this issue has a special focus on Halloween.
I know, I know—many of you are saying, “Halloween? That’s not a Norwegian holiday!”
But those of you who have spent time in Norway in recent years know that since around the turn of the millennium, Norwegians have embraced Halloween with great enthusiasm, especially the little ones. Any why not? It is a day for having fun with friends and family, with parties at school and at home, with costumes, games, and all those treats.
Halloween has ancient origins, a celebration of the shift of seasons, as fall begins to move into winter. It is the evening before All Hallows’ Day, allehelgensdag in Norway, followed by All Souls’ Day, allesjelersdag, when the souls of the dead are remembered.
Perhaps this year more then ever, all of these days have a special meaning for us, as we begin to emerge from the shadow of the pandemic. Norwegian society reopened only a few weeks ago, and here in the United States, most children are back at school, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief and let out a little shout of joy when Dr. Anthony Fauci said it would be safe for trick-or-treating. Step by step, life is returning to normal.
Carpe diem et memento mori
Over the past 18 months, with the threat of a deadly virus we do not fully understand, many of us have thought more about our own mortality. Others have sadly lost friends and loved ones to the pandemic or other illnesses. It has been a time of deep contemplation.
Carpe diem et memento mori—seize the day and remember death—these are words that have a new meaning for us today. If anything, they tell us not to waste our lives, to live each day to its fullest. For me, that means waking up in the morning to seize the day to do something to bring meaning to my life and those around me. I am extremely fortunate to have a job that brings me so much pleasure, and I hope you will share this joy with me and our team here at The Norwegian American.
Halloween horror and more
So how do we celebrate Halloween here at our newspaper? As always, we have approached our theme with unbridled enthusiasm, as we bring you a variety of features focused on horror, crime, haunted hotels, delicious fall food, and much more.
We are especially proud to bring you an exclusive interview with Kathryn Leigh Scott, a woman so talented and so full of life that it was a daunting but very exciting task to begin to capture it a single feature article. It was another dream come true for me to meet with her and share her story with you. If you are a Dark Shadows fan, you will certainly enjoy a nostalgic look back, and I am certain all Norwegian Americans will take inspiration from Kathryn’s truly amazing life story.
Working together
I am always pleased to share good news with you, and I am happy to report that our subscriber base continues to grow, but we still have far to go, and you can help.
With the holiday season coming up, this is an excellent time to send a gift subscription to someone special to you. It also makes the perfect Christmas gift.
We are also now able to accept tax-deductible donations as a non-profit entity.
Finally, remember that you are the best PR for our paper, so please tell your friends about what we offer.
We sincerely thank you for your support and wish you a very happy Halloween and many hours of reading enjoyment.
Lori Ann Reinhall, editor-in-chief
This article originally appeared in the Oct. 22, 2021, issue of The Norwegian American. To subscribe, visit SUBSCRIBE or call us at (206) 784-4617.
