Solbakken

<p>Happy birthday dear Mom- Grammy Tora Auntie Happy birthday to you! The people that fill my screen - each in their own little box - sing and smile once more before disappearing one by one. Blowing them kisses I say Thank you all. I love you! As <span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>I reflect on </span>this sixty-fifth birthday of mine filled with the forced distances of our pandemic era the phone rings jarring me back into the moment.</p><p> Hello Billy I say.                                                                    </p><p> Hey Tor. My cousin's tone is serious. His words clipped.</p><p>What's going on? Everyone okay? I ask.</p><p>Yes we're fine but... well I was just driving by your Uncle Einar's place... I hate to tell you this Tora but somebody broke in. The sheriff is coming out in the morning. It's quite a mess in there. Looks like every drawer and cupboard was emptied out.</p><p>Uncle Einar's home stands empty much of the year and is the original family homestead my grandparents built in <strong><em>Solbakken</em></strong> Minnesota in the early 1900's after immigrating from Norway. </p><p>What? Are you kidding? Who would do that? I spout. You need me to come up there?</p><p> A house. A mess. A mystery.<span style=color: rgba(0 176 80 1)> </span>Amongst the scattered papers and photographs intriguing questions lay unanswered in the Anderson family lineage hidden for decades. When a stash of ancient coins <span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>is</span> found and a gifted stranger moves in next door windows are opened to incredible possibilities that transcend imagination and transport Tora throughout her family's<strong><em> </em></strong><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>generations</span><strong>.</strong></p>