Back in Stockholm

7/26:

Didn't do that much today. Slept until 12:30 PM! I didn't even go to bed that late last night.. I practiced the guitar and went out in the rain and did some shopping for my mom. We had dinner and I talked to my husband and then we packed because we are taking the train up to Skadom (the North of Sweden) tomorrow to see our relatives.

7/25: 

Super hot day! Went and had sushi at Mariatorget and it started pouring rain, which felt refreshing and exciting!

 

Then I walked to Medborgarplatsen and went to Söderhallarna and then met up with Isa (yes, another Isa). Our mom's have been friends our whole lives and we hadn't seen each other since we were kids. We went to Chutney and spent 2.5 hrs there. She's traveled a lot so I wanted to get some ideas and tips from her. Coincidentally, we ran into my mom's boyfriend too. 

Afterward, I met up with my mom at the Police Station at Rådhuset to renew my passport. Everything went really smooth and it'll be ready in a week. Then we went to Kronobergsparken in Fridhemsplan and my mom's boyfriend came too and we had dinner at Kafe Fix, Stockholm's oldest cafe. 

Walked most of the way home and then took the subway. I just love the fact that you can walk so much in Stockholm! I feel so free.

7/24: 

Woke up around 9 AM and went to an hour long Quaker meditation with mom. I didn't enjoy it that much and found it challenging to meditate. I felt drained by everyone's energy and had to take a nap when we came back. I felt very mental - I find that the Swedes are more up in their heads than in their hearts, and they are not as open and easy to connect with as Americans. After the nap, my mom's boyfriend came over and gave me another guitar lesson. I realized that if I pick up the guitar when he comes he can't help but correct me and show me something new, so I get a free lesson :) I called my husband (we were really starting to miss each other) and Nicole. I've been gone for a month now but it feels longer. Then we had dinner and made apple crisp and watched "The Aristocats".

7/23: Woke up late again at 11:30 AM! Really need to break this pattern of going to bed so late. Went and had sushi with mom in Mariatorget and then to Nackareservatet. 

I always had a thing for statues when I was little so we took a picture with my old friend in the subway.

 

We were attacked by mosquitoes on the way to the lake. My mom went for a swim, but I thought the water looked gross. Visited my uncle and his wife afterward, who were painting their living room. 

Took the bus home and went to bed at 11 PM.

7/22: 

Woke up late again at 10:45 AM. Had breakfast with my mom outside and went to Manhem's Cafe while she took a nap and used the WiFi to call Nicole and my husband and update my blog. Did some grocery shopping on the way home and bought my mom some roses.

Made dinner and then her boyfriend came over for a bit and I played my father's guitar (who passed away in 2012). His guitar inspires me to play because I feel like he would have wanted that and I can channel his creativity through it.

Then we went for a walk, baked apple pie and watched my mom's favorite TV show. Didn't get to bed until 1 AM. Feels nice to back in my mom's apartment since it was my home when I went to High School.

Mörkö

7/21: 

Woke up at 11 AM! We spent the day cleaning and cooking and meditated together and then Mats came and drove us to the train and we went back to Stockholm around 9 PM. Slept in my mom's apartment - my old home when I was in High School. 

7/20: 

We rowed over to Järna for a lunch buffet and Mats came and joined us.

We checked out the theatre there (it was empty) and went to a small shop.

In the evening our old friend Hasse and his son, Noak came over for dinner and we played games and had a music jam until midnight and they spent the night. So hard to not stay up late here because the sun sets around 10/11 PM.

7/19: 

Perfect day - meditated for an hour in the morning, which was really powerful and easy out here in the countryside. Then we walked to the lake and went for swim (I thought it was too cold so I didn't jump in... I'm so spoiled).

The weather was hot. My mom took a nap when we got back home, while her boyfriend gave a me an inspiring and helpful guitar lesson out in the garden. Then we made a delicious dinner and goofed off and sang along with the Beatles Greatest Hits and went for another walk under the full moon (with the cat) and picked raspberries at 10 PM.

Got sucked in and watched a really good Swedish movie on TV called "Kyss Mig" and stayed up until about 2 AM.

7/18:

Left my godmother's today to go stay with my mom and her boyfriend where they're housesitting in Mörkö with two cats and a bird. We visited an old friend Staffan and his wife, Joy on the way. I took the train, bus, then walked about 20 minutes and my mom rowed a boat across the lake to come get me! 

It's so incredibly beautiful, still and peaceful out here and the two cats, Hercules & Sessa are really sweet. One of them followed us the whole way on our walk in the evening under the full moon! The bird is sweet too. We stayed up until midnight watching a funny Charlie Chaplin movie, "The Dictator".

"Herkules"

"Sessa"

"Birdie"

I am - shifting, transforming and practicing my new skills and realizing how much I've grown spiritually, emotionally and mentally. My godmother is a very powerful woman and it was like a spiritual retreat being at her house and she helped prepare me for the next step.

Relaxing & Deepening in Tyresö

7/17: 

Talked, relaxed and sunbathed with Carina all day on her deck. Relaxation and connection is so meaningful and important in life and something that most people don't make enough time for.

We also went for a long bike ride.

It's been a relaxing few days and nice deepening my connection with my Godmother. It feels like a retreat and we've had a lot of deep meaningful conversations.

7/16: 

My Godmother and I biked to a free outdoor gym close by Barnsjön. Felt good to work out.

I walked around in the city for a bit and bought some touristy gifts and a shirt that said "Stockholm". It didn't feel as exciting as I thought it would. Last time I came, I hadn't been to Sweden in 7 years, so it was very exhilarating. Whenever you have an expectation that an experience is going to be the same as before, it rarely is. You simply have to be in the moment. I came up with this quote a couple years ago: "Happiness is like rainbow ~ If you chase it, you'll never catch it. You simply have to enjoy it."

Gamla Stan

Mumintrollet

Swedish stuff

Gamla Stan

Slussen

Swedish pancakes 

At 4 PM I visited my grandmother's sister, Li in Karlaplan. My half-siblings (on my father's side) and their partners and kids came along too. It's been so long since I've seen any of them, and some I met for the first time.

7/15: 

I went for a bike ride to Barnsjön (it's been so long since I rode a bike) and stared at the raindrops falling on the lake. It's so meditative to allow yourself to just stare sometimes. I also vacuumed the house and picked strawberries and cherries.

7/14: 

My Godmother and I went for a long walk in Tyresö Naturreservat (and saw a few snakes!) and I gave her a 1.5 hr massage in the evening which she really appreciated and helped us bond more.

7/13: 

I went for a walk with my baby cousin Jonathan (now almost 17!) and their dog AND cat, had dinner with my uncle's family and watched a good French movie called "Intouchables" in the evening.

My cousin playing the saxophone

 Their dog, Satara

 

Their cat, Kiwi followed us the entire walk!