Reverend Ole was the pastor of the local Norwegian Lutheran Church,

and Pastor Sven was the minister of the Swedish Covenant Church

across the road. I saw them yesterday standing by the road, pounding

a sign into the ground, that reads :

"Da End iss Near!

Turn Yourself Aroundt Now!

Before It's Too Late!"

As a car sped past them, the driver leaned out his window and yelled,

"Leave us alone, you religious nuts!"

From the curve we heard screeching tires and a big splash... Rev.

Ole turns to Pastor Sven and asks, "Do ya tink maybe da sign should

yust say 'Bridge Out'?"

Thanks svenivan. Brought back some good memories of my early days.

When I was younger, as a junior merchant marine officer I sailed with many old Norwegian captains. I must have heard 10,000 Sven and Ole jokes and countless debates on which tribe was truly desrving to called "squaregeads". My favorite story, not a joke, but true, was about when the Germans occupied Norway during the war. Not only were they occupied militarily but Germany controlled the civil government as well. Food was rationed and my captain used to tell the story of how those stupid Germans would everyday have them line up for their heriing and boiled potatoes. Everyday the same thing herring and boiled potatoes. He used to say "those stupid <deleted> Germans. We mever had it so good in all our lives".