Verkalýðsdagurinn, a national holiday or something like workers’ day.

Several times I’ve spoken of a yellow-hulled tanker-like vessel in Reykjavik harbor. Each and every day without exception it goes out there, circles around apparently aimlessly and does this for the bulk of the day. Kind of driving me crazy since I see the damn thing from my window.

Most mornings I tune into the AA radio station which broadcasts speakers from America, many of them repeats but then again, they seem to have new ones inserted on a regular basis. Quite inspiring, to be sure, because those speaking recount their terrible misdeeds and how they’ve recovered with the help of AA. The spiritual approach of AA is constant which accounts for its success. Virtually every speaker decries how often people within AA try to eliminate or water down this spiritual element, quite interesting. They are keen on discerning that modern tendency to either ignore or fight against things spiritual, a vigilance which is central to AA’s success.

Yesterday at work a fellow was telling me of an account in Icelandic history just before the Settlement in 1,000. It seems a delegate (he mentioned the name, don’t recall) came to Iceland in an attempt to gauge how there might feel about adopting Christianity. He said there was no need for conversion since the Icelanders were docile and already Christians in essence. I think this observation concurs with my consistent one, namely, that Icelanders are simple and direct by nature which is the greatest benefit of living here. My co-worker then quoted a short poem from an early priest about God above and present within each person. While common to Christianity, this sentiment seems inbred among Icelanders, for I’ve felt it many years. Problem is how to awaken it more. As for this co-worker, just the latest of many examples of the high literacy of Icelanders and their familiarity with their culture. Trying pulling that off in the US!