Ambassador visits

Wegger Christian Strommen, Norway's ambassador to the United States, stopped by the Norse Home and Leif Erickson Hall last Friday before viewing a nearby fishing vessel.

Norway's honorary consul general in Seattle, Kim Nesselquist, and Norwegian counselor for press and culture, Jannicke Jaeger, of Washington, D.C, accompanied him. Nesselquist once was on the board of the Norse Home.

The 49-year-old ambassador seemed charmed by Norse Home resident Eli Glaamen, who turned 100-years-old March 3. Norwegian born, she has lived about half her life in Washington, and told him she worked many years in the kitchen of the Washington Athletic Club.

Strommen grinned when resident Julie Just told him she knew his wife and family from Grimstad, in southern Norway, where she was also from.

Strommen said that Ballard was a lovely area and could see why Norwegian Americans would enjoy living here.

"This is a lovely area. Washington State is a bigger version of Norwegian natural beauty," he said. "I came to Ballard several times in the '90's for vacation and as a lawyer to visit clients at Microsoft."

He gave a brief speech to residents and staff and referring to the Norse Home said, "I've seen a lot of joyful people here and so I can see this must be a very (special) place to live."

Then Nesselquist, Jaeger, and he were given a tour of the facilities and then continued on to the kaffeestube at Leif Erikson Hall.