There is a restaurant in Osseo WI, I think it’s now more legend, more of a State treasure than a mere restaurant, it has transcended that category. This restaurant is called the Norske Nook. First impressions: it looks like your typical small town breakfast restaurant. It has the typical menu items you would see at just about any old fashioned Pancake House. The food is very very good!
That is, until you have dessert, then the food becomes very good.
The Norske Nook makes pie. The Norske Nook makes world class pie, the kind of pie that makes you nearly forget that they serve breakfast, lunch and dinner too. The Norske Nook makes pies that have won multiple Blue Ribbons and awards, they are nationally recognized.
And, the Norske Nook is only a few miles off the path between our home and my In-Laws.
We’ve been known to make a stop along the way.
So, it was last Thanksgiving, we visited Annie’s folks for the holiday weekend. On our way home, as per tradition, we stopped at the Norske Nook.
“You know,” I said, “Because I didn’t consume enough over the weekend, I’m kinda thinking I’m going to skip lunch and just have two slices of pie. We don’t get out here very often, go big or go home. Right?
Annie, God bless her soul replied to my idea with, “well why wouldn’t you?”. We picked our flavors and plunged headfirst into little Piggy Heaven.
Before I go on, let me explain that I, along with my Brother & Sister are (so far) the culmination of an incredibly strong genetic thread—we have a sweet tooth, we got it from Dad, who got it from Great Grandpa, who got it from . . .you know? The line goes pretty far back, we’ll leave it at that. Whenever, my Dad, my Brother and Sister sit down to dig into a slice of pie or cake, or gummies or toffee or chocolate, there are hundreds of spirits, our ancestors behind us, all looking over our shoulders, saying “ooh!”
This is much bigger than simply reinforcing an ancient stereotype about my family, I’m carrying on a legacy here! Just stop for a second and think of the weight I carry on my shoulders. As if that isn’t enough, I now have children, I need to pass this legacy down to them. Will someone take a second and appreciate all that I am taking on? Someone?
Anyway, justifications have been stated. I need to get back to the story, I was also feeling like we, as parents, were letting loose a little. You know, let Lydia eat all fun food for once. We’re cool parents! See?
I just pushed an empty plate away (peach pie) and began sliding the banana cream pie in, when Lyd decides she doesn’t want any more of her pie. “Daddy, I think I might be full.”
“Uhm . . .” I rubbed my stomach, and gave her partially-eaten chocolate-on-chocolate topped with chocolate syrup mega-slice a long thoughtful look. “Sure I suppose, I can finish off your slice Hun.” (It’s one time a year! Don’t you dare judge me). My eyes drifted from her pie to her face, I wasn’t liking her expression, “What’s up Hun? Is your tummy okay?”
“Yeah, my tummy is fine.”, I studied her for a couple seconds longer. She seemed fine to me. I shrugged, pushed my banana cream aside again and began pig dogging into her slice (banana cream is my favorite, I finish with that little beauty). Lyd sat there in silence for a couple minutes before speaking up again, “Can I have real food?”
I was shocked speechless for a second, we’re being cool parents! Come on! I woke up that morning looking forward to eating Norske Nook pie, I woke up looking forward to Lyd eating Norske Nook pie. I spent the past two hours of this road trip justifying all the decadent amount of dessert I was going to gorge myself on—in the wake of an already decadent holiday!
My reaction? I look back, and yes, I’ll own up to it, there might have been a bit of an outraged edge in my voice, If my mind came with subtitles, you would have read, “What do you mean you don’t want any more pie? You dare call yourself my daughter???” My mind’s thoughts were quickly stuffed down safely somewhere, I closed my eyes, I took a deep breath, I spoke, I pushed her slice back across the table to her, “No! You will get no eggs and toast until you finish that slice of pie!”
Yeah, I said that. Who’s the adult here? It took me a couple seconds before I realized how ludicrous that statement was.
Five minutes later, Lydia was happily digging into some scrambled eggs and toast.
Someday she’ll grow up, look back at this, and she’ll regret it. Mark my words.

My own Daughter . . .rejecting pie. In all my years I never . . .(grumble grumble), It was chocolate! (Grumble) . . .Kids these days . . .(grumble grumble). . .