[Caramelgal]

…the two women who died in 834 aged about 80 and 50

To live to be 50 back then, I think was considered a pretty long life, but 80? Wow.

But then again maybe that’s not so hard for me to believe. My father was born in Norway and his mother lived well into her late 80’s and her sister lived to be at least 100 and was still going strong last I heard. In fact most of my Norwegian family members (especially the women) lived well past the normal life expectancy. When my uncle took a trip to Norway a few years back to visit his aunt (my great aunt) she was physically a bit frail but my uncle told me she was a sharp as a tack mentally. As well as having a good memory for all the things she lived through she was also very aware of and had strong opinions on current events.

I attribute long life to the Nordic propensity for stubbornness. A favorite joke in our family is “You can always tell a Norwegian woman. But you just can’t tell her much.”

[blam]

"A favorite joke in our family is “You can always tell a Norwegian woman. But you just can’t tell her much.”

Scandinavians have larger teeth than all other Europeans. Have you noticed that?