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A sunny (of course) May morning in Albuquerque, New Mexico. New carpeting has just been installed in my living room. In the process of putting furniture, books, and tchotchkes back in their assigned places, I notice there’s just enough changes to make me feel happily renewed. From my desk, I see a chair that has a new throw, a few art and poetry books in a different bookcase where they insist I… Read More
September in Europe was comprised of three distinct passages. First a visit to the ‘young’ cousins in Kristiansand, the Setesdal Valley, and Neset. My ancestral stomping grounds. Can I call it home, even though I didn’t visit until age 46? Yes, why not? It feels right, especially since most of the names on the mailboxes of my Minnesota childhood road were Olson, Nelson, Gunderson, and Neset so it seems my grandfather didn’t… Read More
I cannot seem to leave Kristiansand. After all, I do have more time in Norway, and a Paris sojourn to share…but I’m dawdling. Must like it here. There are a few more things to share now: experiences I want to share for the pleasure of reliving them almost in the moment, and to be able to revisit them in a future blog-book as well. First the brand-new Kunstsilo Nordic art museum. While… Read More
Today, still in pre-election 2024, we are visiting the Setesdal Valley of southern Norway. Where one-half of my family originates. The Nesets are Setesdal Valley people. Which is just fine, considering that in a way it represents a natural beauty and a way of life darn near too good to be true. One can apparently drive the length of it without seeing any signs of environmental disaster, dire poverty or rampant hatred… Read More
Back then: September 2024. An excellent time was had in Norway and in Paris. Coming up: November 2024. The end of the US as we thought we knew it OR we are saved by the skin of our teeth or in the nick of time or just barely…or whatever. But Now. October 2024. I’ve been intending to write three praiseworthy blog posts about my September trip. I published an Oslo introduction… Read More
Walking toward sun-sparkled water in the coolish warmth of an early September day in the north. Me. Oslo. I imagine people are smiling as I walk by them in my new Harris/Walz t-shirt, and I’m smiling too, and, you know what…I am happy. Hey brother Robert, it’s almost like those olden times we talk about—when our happys and sads had peaks and crevices. I’m feeling a little peak coming on… I love… Read More
Well not that it…which I’m pretty sure I never had in any case. But the “travel it” is damn near intact. I haven’t been on a substantial overseas trip by myself for a few years and, probably, I’m older now with perhaps some slight derangements previously unnoticed…but I appear to be with it! I am excited not to have lost all my travel chops…yeah yeah yeah. Creeping timidity, creaks and aches, nap-obsession…actually… Read More
2018 has been a year of preparation—for 2019 when I join the ranks of the old-old (although that doesn’t officially happen until I cannot make it up Black Mountain). However it is year’s end and here I am—still unprepared. I’ve tried. I have really tried. Climbing up and down the side of that schooner in heavy gear and walking the 10K in the Duke City Marathon. Allotting the reading of history as… Read More
It has been nearly a month since I left Norway. It’s been a difficult adjustment in some ways. Not because I’m on death’s door like returning from India but because I do love Norway and there won’t be so very many more visits to what feels like my ‘homeland.’ And returning to US politics is like falling falling falling into an honest-to-god cesspool. There’s no sign of the swamp Sleazy T. wanted… Read More