Getting closing gifts for my customers has been pushed down the todo list for a couple of weeks now. So today was the day that I was going to make some purchases. I stopped at a corner liquor market for one client and then onto Ingebretzen’s for another who I knew would appreciate a gift with a Nordic flare.
It was just a couple of years ago that the store celebrated its hundredth year on this busy street in Minneapolis. It originates from a time when Norwegians and Swedes were the disadvantaged new immigrants, scraping by without two dimes to rub together. You wouldn’t know it from the gifts stacking the shelves at the shop now. They are abundant and exquisit.
There is an immediately identifiable flare to Scandinavian housewares. It might be the heavy dose of primary colors with an emphasis on marine blue for dishware and cherry red for accent pieces. The elves and gnomes are peeking out from all the margins as if to give the Viking miniatures their fair due. Carl Larson captured the portraits of fair-haired women in particular; you can always find a sleeve of his notecards for purchase.
A lot of people bee line straight for the deli counter. One yelp reviewer went for the “Six types of herring. Swedish Meatball Meat. Julekage. Limpa Rye. Scandinavian sausages and cheese. Store made Lefse. Candy, Fish, Crisp Breads, Lingonberry jam.” Another noted “I also found lingonberries in syrup, lingonberry jam, lefsa, tisanes, sweaters . . . so much more.”
I had no problem picking out a little memento and card for my client. I also knew my mother would appreciate the little lamb. After my card was run for the purchases I noticed the Uf Da pins and had to add it to my gift. A pleasant sale lady with gracious hair had been talking with me through my perusings. I asked her if I could pay the two dollars in cash for the pin. “Well, there’s tax,” she said just about spitting the words. “That tax,” again, the vehement words contrasting against the gentle woman.
As long as the talk is theoretical, anything is possible and everything is agreeable. Once the toll is in place to pay, then people’s feelings are more apparent.
Home Economics 