Duck duck goose

A fraction of the flock, Santa Maria, California

Denmark-ish

At the end of the 19th century, my paternal great-grandfather and his family, which included a toddler who would become my grandfather, immigrated from Denmark.

In the early 20th century, three Danish immigrants—two reverends and a professor—established Solvang, California with the intent to preserve and promote Danish culture. These Danes had no connection with my ancestors.

After the Second World War the citizens of Solvang decided to redesign the town's facade to resemble a traditional Danish village in order to add tourism to the town’s agricultural economy. Today less than 15% of Solvang’s residents claim Danish ancestry.

Now here I am, a guy who’s one-quarter Dane, with a Danish surname, hanging out in Hans Christian Andersen Park. Frankly, the center of town is too touristy for my tastes (though I’ll be stopping at a souvenir shop to get a sticker for my wall). The park is nice and neutral, with no faux old style Scandinavian architecture. Just the natural coastal hills and woodlands.

Since tomorrow is my 73rd birthday, I’ll celebrate with a hotel room, get myself all scrubbed and polished, and maybe have a dinner of Stegt Flæsk or Røget Laks.

Two fewer things to worry about. For now.

I stepped up to the counter and showed my ID to the Postal Service guy with waist-length silver hair. “General Delivery,” I said. He wrote my name on a piece of receipt paper then disappeared into the back.

I waited. And waited. It was technically five days since my replacement debit card had been mailed. Would it be here? Would I need to come back Monday? Or even Tuesday?

But before my anxiety got too high, Mr. Silverhair reappeared holding an envelope. Yup, from Wells Fargo. Yup, I could feel the card inside. Yay! I thanked the clerk and told him I envied his hair. (Any hair, actually.)

I drove to an ATM to activate the card and check my balance. Ah, my Social Security had been credited to my account. Double yay! I can go another three weeks or so before I start worrying whether the Social Security Administration has gone to hell.

Among my notices from the bank was a list of all my autopay recipients. So I’ll spend the afternoon updating account information—for some of them.

On today's stroll

Just some time by the sea