Solo, Trio, Solo

Hi All,

Hope you're having a very wonderful New Year! This past week has been EPIC and TOTALLY COOL and EVENTFUL. The cast celebrated Karis' birthday on the 28th, and we are having an onslaught of visitors:  Ollie's Ma, Karis' parents, Jamie's sister/brother-in-law, Simon's bestie, and last but not least, the Horton Wombats!

I started off the week going solo, visiting the Nordiska Museet and learning about Swedish décor, fashion and influences. The snow had fallen the evening before, so the outdoors were a vibrant treat, and the indoors a warm refuge. 

Really Old in front of Relatively New

Outside the Nordiska Museet

Inside the Nordiska Museet

Cracked Mirror, Crooked Smile

 

Parental Supervision

My parents arrived on Wednesday having done an overnight to Frankfurt and a morning flight to Helsinki. Upon their arrival, I ensured they moved in comfortably with a little vino and food. I'd like to say I provided them with engaging conversation too, but alas, I found myself sitting with two sleeping beauties, wondering what to do with myself in the meantime.

Allowing my parents to take over my room has its perks! Sure, it seems my dad managed to use all three of our towels and we were constantly tripping over each others' stuff, but I got to spend New Year's Eve sleeping over at Ollie's. We spent our time in proper sleepover style, hairstyling, watching action movies, eating instant noodles and exchanging jokes. 

My handiwork! Cornrows.

Bringing the Parents Around

I brought my parents to my favourite haunts in Stockholm:  Gamla Stan (Old Town, 800 years old with the parliament building and the royal palace), Slussen (second-hand shop central!), and the main island, where we visited the Catholic Church before returning to the ship. I have to say, we did a pretty good job at covering ground, not to mention picking up a few more pressies for family back in the US.

Pa Struggles with "Smile" but Masters "Grimace"

Our day in Helsinki was much more leisurely. Being blustery outside, and us lacking sleep, we took refuge in the Kappeli cafe, then visited the Helsinki Cathedral. The sun smiled on us for a good minute before leaving us in the bitter cold. We headed back to the ship. 

My parents exclaimed the trip was "well worth it" and the shows were "really good". They're awesome at expressing themselves. 

Cathedral Selfie!

Back to Solo

Now that they're gone, I have returned to my solo act, sleeping away the afternoons and meandering outside in the cold during the day. Today, I got snowed on extensively, loving every minute of my journey. Appreciative is what I am, joyous is what I am, and I spent a good time chuckling to myself, smiling at passersby and watching the kiddies sledding in the snow. 

It has dawned on me that we're entering a New Year without some of our old friends. Joe Wallace and Samantha Devers, we are missing you especially now. We are grateful for your contributions down here and are thinking of you fondly. Your lives are not in vain. 

I've decided my New Year's Resolution is to smile at more strangers. I spent a good chunk of last year maintaining and bolstering myself and my friendships; now I want to spread it further. It's a simple act and I hope it has some positive consequences, if only to remind me to be engaged with the world around me. I had a really great moment smiling at an infant today. We passed each other twice, and on the second round, she managed to wave her warmly clad hand at me. Somehow, I feel this exchange will factor into this little baby's future. Somehow.

Happy 2016 everyone. I can't wait!!!!