This year it’s 100 years since “Jærens store sønn” (no, not Erling Håland) Arne Garborg passed away. Dad and I trekked out to Bryne to listen to Kjell Arild Pollestad and Torgeir Bygstad read from their new book with collections from Arne Garborg’s works. I was the odd one out with no gray hair and functioning knees but enjoyed the event just the same.

I took a two year university literature program before our travels and naturally have an interest in literature events, but even more so this time because I’ve heard Pollestad’s stories throughout my life from his biggest fan, my dad. They grew up in the same neighborhood and their grandmothers were sisters. The biggest surprise of the evening was that even though dad hadn’t met Pollestad for 55 years, he still remembered my grandparents (your mother was Australian) and both dad’s first and middle name!