More Catching Up…

Late December 2010

I have to add a note to the end of our trip to Italy as this seemed to be a turning point for me.  Going through the Milan airport was a real pain.  From the walk-up café where I tried to explain what sandwich I wanted (a simple sandwich, really – just sliced ham on a baguette), then I seemed to confuse the woman (she did not speak English) when I added a dessert loaded with berries at the far end of the counter.  She didn’t understand and the line behind us grew.  Even Gary and Annie rolled their eyes … at me.

And then there was the long wait to check in at the Norwegian Airlines counter.  It took forever. How do you say in a universal language, “Hey, you cut in front of us!!”?

Once more we witnessed the cruise ship mentality when airborne.  People were up and out of their seats milling around as soon as that seatbelt light was off.  I had an aisle seat, so it was probably natural that, again, I found I was witness to a loud conversation between two men directly across from me with one standing up—although I didn’t have a rear end in my face.  I even commented to Gary that with all the many conversations going on around us - it was like being witness to the Plane of Babel.  Italians, Norwegians, Swedes and I’m sure many more countries were represented besides us Americans.  Even the baby behind us made loud babbling noises with a shriek thrown in for good measure.  At one point they were so loud (of course they had to be, there were so many) I wondered, why had I never experienced this before when flying?  I felt pure aggravation that grew into anxiousness.

 I decided the best way to drown out the noise was to embed my iPod ear buds into my head and listen to some loud – really loud – music.  So I go deaf, I thought.  Who cares?

My music tastes range from some contemporary secular to contemporary Christian. At this point I wasn't choosy. The first song that came on, and the first lines I heard, were from the Greatness of Our God by Hillsong…

              Give me eyes to see more of who You are…

May what I behold still my anxious heart…

Take what I have known and break it all apart.

Hearing those words pierced my heart. These people are being who they are.  Who do I think I am?  I am the one who has invaded this foreign land.  How can I be so critical?  In a flash, my whole outlook of being away from home, being around people I do not know who speak a language I do not understand changed, and even better, my anxiousness was immediately lifted.

~~~~~

We checked into the same Scandic where we stayed prior to our trip.  When we first stayed there they told us our suite was rented out on two nights we happened to be in Italy, so it worked well for us to store our luggage in one of their closets while we were away.  Now we were in a different suite.  No more huge soaking pool (tub).  No, this one had a sauna!

Karlstad in the Winter…

One thing I have always enjoyed, no matter where we are, is taking long drives.  On one of the holiday afternoons we took a long drive to show Annie the university, the (horse) race track, convention center and other areas here in Karlstad.  Just past the IKEA there’s a lake with a large park area, a restaurant, and even rentable cabins nestled in some trees.   We meandered back and around once Gary spotted three wind turbines off in a distance.  As we drove in that direction we were in awe of the beauty of the countryside. We never did reach the wind turbines, but it seemed at every turn there was a farm where a big red barn sat back off the road surrounded by a virginal blanket of fresh snow, untouched by animal or man.  It was a beautiful!!

January 3, 2011 – Monday – The Apartment

Today we move into our apartment above the Espresso House.  Järnvägsgatan 8 will be our address for the next two years.  All three of us were at the apartment when Karolina stopped by to give us information we needed from the landlord.  Soon after, Gary stood down on the street to meet, greet, and direct the delivery of boxes containing our personal items followed by the delivery of the rented furniture GE was providing us. Sweet Annie totally set up my kitchen with the food items and kitchen gadgets while I directed the movers on where to place the furniture. 

Home is where the heart is and while my heart remains at home in South Carolina with my children, sweet granddaughter and wonderful friends, this is where I will live for the next two years.  This will be our home away from home.  Yeah, our home away from home…

Our apartment is the second floor above the Espresso House.

January 4, 2011 – A Sad Farewell…

Being back in Karlstad after Italy meant one thing:  it was the end of the holidays and now it was the end of Annie’s visit with us.  This is the day she returned to Greenville, and I wasn’t ready for her to go, but I suspected she was.  She had a new semester of school to look forward to, she missed her friends, and she missed her dog, Gilli.

We had to get up and be on the road by 4:00 a.m. to take her to Oslo to catch her morning flight.  Once there, Gary helped her get her boarding passes (sometimes that kiosk is persnickety and will not accept a passport.  He seems to have the golden touch of experience to make it work).  We checked her one piece of luggage which was much lighter now that she had off-loaded all my food items.  Then we pointed her in the direction of our favorite airport café after the security check. 

As I watched her walk away she didn’t know it, but I followed as close behind as I could.  Not because I didn’t think she could make her way through security, but because I wanted to see her until I couldn’t see her any more.  Moms are like that…