Exam Celebration

I had the pleasure of taking my hunting course instructor Crocodile Lars for a celebration dinner at Lofoten in Aker Brygge last night.

Crocodile Lars is a class act. There is no question that without his most excellent guidance, I would have struggled with the Norwegian language in the state administered exam.

We were joined by my young brother in law, a keen hunter himself, and his girlfriend, with whom I did the course. There is no question that without their most excellent support, I would have struggled.

I am grateful! There was plenty of Montrachet, excellent fish, and lively discussion.

Through his course lectures, Crocodile Lars demonstrated to me in many ways he was a world class instructor. Though I had difficulty understanding his Sworsk, his acting out of hunting vignettes was theatre on a grand scale.

The man is an outstanding communicator, and a passionate one.

One of my favourite lectures was his instruction of how to gut and de-bowel an elk after shooting. Using his own body, he simulated hanging the elk by its front legs to a tree branch. Sitting on the edge of a table, feet dangling, with hands in a diagonal crucifixion pose, he began.

Directing his imaginary knife to a spot just under the neck, he made a careful incision, slowly unzipping his fleece to just over the groin area. Meticulously peeling back his fleece, he proceeded with an elk biology lesson pointing out major organs, and how to best use gravity to complete the job. Truly magnificent!

Dinner conversation revealed that he is a classically trained pianist and a world class yachtsman, in addition to training the prime minister and other dignitaries in matters of hunting. This from a man in his 60s who looks like Woody Allen with a 5 o’clock shadow, and dresses as if he has just walked out of the bush! Never judge a book by its cover.

When I sent him the invitation email, I made a point of communicating my appreciation for his support and the enjoyment of receiving world class hunting instruction. World class is not a term I use often in Norway for reasons I will not bore you with. It is good to know I can still pick them having lived here for almost 4 years.

While Crocodile Lars and I discussed being in the zone, peak performance, the importance of teamwork, social anthropology, and standard deviation, my young brother and law and his girlfriend became bored. They like Crocodile Lars but think he is a bit weird. I have found a new friend with whom I can share life experiences.

You just cannot explain a lot of things to some kids in their 20s, they either get it or they don’t.

It is like passion. You either have it or you don’t.

I thank the gods for being genetically endowed with passion and love to meet others as infected. I am not sure I'd cope well without it!

Beaverboosh