I was invited back to the monthly Men’s Breakfast meeting, which is part of Mayflower Church in Minneapolis, which is soon to be Creekside United Church of Christ. My speaking topic: lefse.
The issue, however, was I had talked extensively about lefse and how to make very good lefse the last time I presented. What more could I say?
I decided to roll lefse and quickly review how to make good lefse for those who had missed my first presentation. But the core of what I spoke on was about what lefse has meant to me. Originally, I was thinking this would be about humor, but as I prepared my presentation it turned out to much more. So here is my recollection of the 7 Lessons on Lefse and Life.
1. You Don’t Know Until You Roll.
After my Grandma Jenny Legwold died, I called my dad, Conrad Legwold, and asked who would be making lefse for the family now that Grandma had passed. He was stumped, but I was panicked that this grand old tradition was ending in our family. When I pressed him on who is going to make the lefse, he finally said, “Well, how about you?” That led to writing an article in Minnesota Monthly magazine and then to my first book, The Last Word on Lefse: Heartwarming Stories and Recipes, Too! This led to two other books on lefse, two more on lutefisk and eventually all the products on LefseKing.com. All because I decided to not let a tradition die in my family. You just don’t know how “silly” ideas are going to pan out. You don’t know until you roll, and even after you roll you may not know right away how things will turn out. Chairman Mao Zedong was asked what he thought of the French Revolution, and he responded: “It’s too early to tell.” So roll with the idea. Trust yourself. Jane, my wife, gave me a sign that says: “Hold on … I need to overthink this!” No, I don’t. I didn’t 35 years ago when I thought I would chase this lefse dream. And I don’t now that I have become older and, yes, wiser. Trust yourself and do it.
2. Have Humor Handy.
Humor lightens the load. Luckily, with lefse and lutefisk, there is always humor. I call them the Great Social Ignitors. Just say the word “lefse” or “lutefisk” at any social gathering, and the room lights up with stories, memories, and laughter. Those of us in Lefse Land know this and are grateful that we have lefse and lutefisk in our tradition. And it’s not a bad idea to have a good joke at the ready. My standby is: “What did the Norwegian say when he saw his first pizza? ‘Who trew up on my lefse?'”
3. Nothing’s More Powerful Than Kindness.
I learned to cry from my Grandpa Emmanuel Gehring, who farmed in Washburn, North Dakota. He cried when we drove away to Illinois after a visit. So I’ve learned to let the tears flow, and I find that nothing brings me to tears more than an act of kindness. Such hope and love there, and it doesn’t take much to be kind. Lefse is all about kindness. Kindness shown by a grandma, by a neighbor who gives away lefse at Christmas, by a father who makes lefse for a friend’s funeral. I go all over the country selling lefse at markets, and in spite of events of the world, I have always been greeted with kindness. And I greet others with the same kindness. It’s like in the realm of lefse, there is not much room for anything else. And I am moved to tears when I realize how much kindness is all around us. Be kind.
4. A Recipe Lasts Longer Than a Gravestone.
A good lefse recipe is honored and revered. It really is. People love lefse, but they really love making really good lefse. If they have a tried-and-true lefse recipe, they will hold on to that dearly because of the promise of good lefse and the wonderful memories they have of the person who shared that recipe. When that person passes on, there will be visits to the gravestone. But those visits become less frequent with each passing generation, while that lefse recipe will stay fresh because each new generation discovers and delights in the grand old tradition of making lefse. The gravestone represents what was, while the recipe represents what was and what is and what will be.
5. Clean Up Your Mess.
When making lefse, there are lots of dishes to do. The kitchen is a mess, especially if you make a lot of lefse. To only bask in the glory of making wonderful lefse means the lefse making is not done. You have to clean up your own mess with lefse making and, if I may, with life. Everyone makes a mess of something. Good lefse makers do their dishes, and do a good job with the dishes. Your dishes are not for someone else, and there is therapy, of sorts, in washing and drying and putting away the bowls and equipment so someone else can enjoy the experience without having to clean up after a prima donna lefse maker.
6. Help the Next One in Line.
Invite the next generation. Don’t wait for them to come to you. They want to learn to make lefse but will get caught up in the stuff of youth and may not seem interested. They are, especially if you invite them and teach them in a loving way all of your methods for making very good lefse. They want to make you proud, and nothing will make you prouder than when they show up at your door with a big smile and a big platter of pretty dang good lefse.
7. Keep on Rolling.
Lefse making isn’t the only thing that teaches resiliency. But it’s pretty clear there are a lot of lessons on sticking to it to be learned by watching a 92-year-old grandma pull out all the lefse equipment and roll lefse for yet another Christmas. Lefse making can be hard work, but hard work is not to be avoided in order to get to something good, especially if you can share the hard work with laughter and loving family and friends. You are rewarded for your hard work with very good lefse and very good memories. And when the time comes when your hard work is too hard or is not rewarded with very good lefse because of age, then you can keep on rolling with service. You’ve done your good work and helped the next ones in line. Now you can keep on rolling by holding the door for those who are carrying the load. Offer a smile and a joke and encouragement. Help with dishes. And be kind.
