[S]he was going to live forever, or die in the attempt. -Joseph Heller, Catch-22 I feel a cold northern breeze play upon my cheeks, which braces my nerves, and fills me with delight. Do you understand this feeling? This breeze, which has travelled from the regions towards which I am advancing, gives me a foretaste…
Tag: americans abroad
Un Américain Errant (Part 1)
Lehi, Utah – Tuesday, September 26, 2023 I tug at the sleeve of my navy cardigan. It’s far too large and long for my arms, but warming in the chill of the examination room. It was the closest room available, and as soon as I’d asked my boss for a private moment alone to talk,…
Days 23 – Activating Compassion
Sunday July 9 There was a distance between you and Ia misunderstanding once but nowwe look it in the eye Rascal Flatts, “Life is a Highway” She had a long night. From the bed and breakfast’s whirlwind welcome to the critic from across the cape, Joey had dealt with pretty much every disaster under the…
Day 21 – 22 Changing Tides
Destiny can be changed. But youhave to have the will to change it.Even if it requires sacrifice. – September, “Fringe” Season 5 What we believe becomes a part of who we are. So wedefend our beliefs like we would defend our own flesh and blood.But beliefs are not who you are. They are ephemeral things,and…
Days 20 – Girl Power
In which I take a day trip into town with my housemate on an unbeknownst flat tire but that’s fine, because I found jeans that actually fit, so I consider that a win. Thursday July 6, 2023 Say what you will. The 90’s was a lot of things – middle parts, cargo pants three sizes…
Day 17 – 18 Independence Day
Monday and Tuesday July 3 and 4 Life has to go on. We can’t live our whole lives in fear. – from the film “Stranded” Monday The Fourth of July is for Americans what Midsommar is for Swedes. An excuse to get together and picnic, relax outdoors, and celebrate in general merriment as a community…
Days 15 – 16 “Now you must hunt to the ten”
Saturday and Sunday July 1 and 2, respectively Either write something worth readingor do something worth writing. Benjamin Franklin Saturday was my first day off and let me tell you, it was gosh darn magical. Waking up next to someone and waiting for them to wake up next to you is a special kind of…
Day 11 – Work Stay my Days Away
Tuesday June 27 Aight fam, here’s the lowdown: I love tomatoes. Be sliced, diced, pureed or sautéed, in a box, with a fox – I’ll eat tomatoes any way, whadda ya say. But I have re-planted so many tomato plants in the past 36 hours, if I had to tie a stalk to a post…
Day 10 – First Impressions
Soderala, Sweden, Monday June 26 Only thing that keeps us apartIs seven thousand miles, running like a mad dogOnly thing that keeps us apartIs a different timezone -Maneskin, Timezone Hot showers have got to be the absolute best thing in the entire freaking world. Chocolate is tasty, money would be nice, love is desirable. But….
Day 6 – The Power of Fika
9:05pm – Thursday June 22, 2023 I rush in the building, the heavy glass double doors propped open to let in the warm summer breeze. I would not make a good Swede based on perpetual tardiness alone. . . The directions on my phone took me up and around the east side, so I missed…