An enlightening read and very much appreciated. Years ago, in a sociology class, I wrote, “Culture emerges from the land and cannot be imposed upon the land.” My professor circled that one sentence in red and gave me an A+”. If not for all that red, I am certain, the thought would have left my mind.

Two years ago, I retired, left my mountains, and moved to Kentucky. To me, it’s another planet. I cannot read the land and sky and every storm surprises me. My son-in-law, a native Kentuckian, patiently explains this place to me. I have to watch myself. Some of my colloquialisms are offensive here. My baking requires more sugar. My friendliness must be kept in check. Letting people know I am not from Kentucky eases my way.

The one thing that is exactly like home, is how many people here explain things by telling me their stories. Whenever I’ve inquired after this habit, people here tell me that storytelling is mountain culture.

Until he was in his 80s, my grandfather and I hiked and backpacked together. We hiked in every state, except Hawaii, and up into Alaska and through the Canadian Rockies several times. No matter where we went, Grampa always headed towards some mountain peak or lake. When grampa could not hike anymore, he bought a ticket on a ship and went home – to Norway. He said he wanted to be on the water and see his mountains one last time.

I picked up my storytelling habit from my grandfather. Grampa’s mother, my great-grandmother, and his sisters, my great-aunts, were storytellers too. People used to complain that no one in our family, could answer a straight question. I was in my late twenties, before I understood what they were complaining about – and learned how to answer a straight question.

Mr. Engheim, can you tell me; is storytelling a Norwegian habit? Did grampa get that habit from his youth in Norway? Or did he pick it up here in American mountain culture?