Milles kungarike
This day, 14 year ago, a remarkable friendship started between me and one of my most beloved friends ever. Mille. He came to us on May 9 and will stay for ever in our memories even if he left us, May 9, two years ago.
These two pictures were among the first ones I posted on my blog. I am very grateful for all the happy memories.
The old Lutheran Church (1704), Latvia, Riga
I went to my school tonight, to visit the yearly Open House event. I do not know what I had expected, I guess I did not want to expect anything… did not want to get disappointed.
But they were there, my dear collegues and my sweet students. Many hugs and many of the students expressing how I was greatly missed. Wondering how and what I was doing now, when I would come back and …me wondering about them. Just before the Christmas vacation it’s usually rather tough – especially the second year. And those who will be flying next spring…I promised to come and see them take off, they are already fully fledged.
Old students who left our school last spring and some who left us several years ago – they come back, visiting. Surely this is the very best school to study at…because, why else would so many students return this day – and even other days during the year?
We are a big family. So, how can I leave? On a day like this I just feel all that Love rushing through my veins…I do love them all. All of them.
So, Winter decided to pay us a visit – for one day. 40 cm snow yesterday night – rain again tomorrow…I keep an eye on the weather report at least three times a day, so I knew. Clear sky today and about 5-15 degrees below zero.
Starting out early for the sunrise – very cold. 15.5 degrees below zero.
I was alone up at Hovdala, and nobody had walked the path since the snow – so I got warmed up…
I was lucky to get white frost as well, and no wind.
On walking back I decided to take the road further on instead of the untrodden path. Now the soft, pink light arrived in full splendour.
After two hours, I was heading back to my car, even if I could have stayed longer, I was getting hungry…and my plan was to stop at the wetlands at Magle as well. It took me some 15 minutes and finally some help from a kind man (whatever he did driving out here in absolutely nowhere) to open the frozen door. Unfortunately I had locked it – which was a bad idea in this cold weather. (How unused to this am I…? No snow at all last year)
I went to Magle as well – and saw the fog rising from the water, the swans and ducks slowly floating in the shimmering water, and the frosty herons flying low.
This was a magnificent day, made possible by weather gods and my year off. I’ll save the shining Magle post for a rainy day…
I could have written about yesterday’s heightened terror alarm in my country; I could have written about the new article on restistant bacteria; I could have written about the war – in so many countries and places in the world. But I will not do that. We are full up.
I support people every day. I need positive energy. We all do. I want to listen to the children and the young. I read articles on people miraculously saved, people who are coming back to life, children who have this life energy despite the world.
Yesterday on TV (I seldom watch TV, but have done so now to follow the terror attacks abroad and the news from our government), there was this young boy, aged 9, whose hands and face had been badly burnt when he was 5. Now he had met his idol, a young singer who also had been severely burnt some years ago, in a train accident – Axel Schylström, 23.
The boy, whose name I do not remember as I came in late in the program, was interviewed on his thoughts about what had happened to him, and how he had tackled his fate. And, what did he think about meeting his idol and why was Axel his idol?
The boy was only 5 when this happened…and at first it was very difficult for him – face and hands badly burnt. Now, he says, he loves playing TV- and computer games with his friends and in fact life is rather good. He has been operated on several times, and luckily his eyes are working and he can use his hands. He is smiling. ”Sometimes people look at me, but I have got used to it”, he says. ”I think that if they wonder what has happened to me – they should ask!”
So, he met his idol, Axel, a singer on the rise, and told the reporter afterwards that you can do anything despite what has happened to you. Axel is a living example of that.
Calm and too early grown-up, this 9-year-old looks into the camera and says: ”You don’t change because of this, you know, inside you are the same guy.”
Bild: Daniel Ohlsson/TV4 , Axel Schylström
Victory. What does this word make you think of? Most certainly sports, maybe you have stopped smoking or drinking, Maybe you survived a dreadful accident or conquered cancer.
My Victory might seem a small one, but to me, very significant. I belong to those middle aged people who were raised always to do their duty, to work until your task is finished, to stand up for what is right and seldom (never) complain.
Many things change during a lifetime. And that’s life, of course. Today, my parents are getting old, friends are getting incurable diseases – even die. Dear colleagues are leaving due to the work situation and because of retirement. Students are changing – the world is changing.
I am not there yet – not even on the threshold of retirement. But. Many personal things during the last two years have taken its toll. I felt tired and without enthusiasm this spring. Should I really work until the bitter end? No time for my ageing parents? No time for family, friends or myself? Nobody knows their time span – I might get run over by a bus tomorrow…
This thinking began to envelop me, and I checked my financial status as well as consulting my school on the possibility of taking a year off. And I did it. Despite my love for my students, my love for my colleagues and for my work. A hard decision to make, but when I finally had decided, everything felt as it should. Really good. Like a jigsaw puzzle coming together, displaying its flawless pattern. I can compare this to when I decided to stay at home with my children for five years when they were small. I felt I must not die having made too many wrong decisions, I must do as much as I can for my family. And this time also for myself. I needed to find that ”real self” I used to be satisfied with: Nonstressed, calm, energetic and creative. Listening and caretaking. The person I once was.
I went to Denmark a couple of days and had a great weekend with my old childhood friends, celebrating my birthday. Late this evening I came home, and posted a couple of things from my stay these two days, and after that I opened my comment box to answer those who might have been visiting…And – it seems that, according to WordPress, last week I reached 1000 followers. ONE THOUSAND. Impossible to grasp!
My deepest gratitude to you, all readers and followers! I really don’t know how this is possible – and now a reality? And practically on my birthday!
I have been absent, I have been tired, I have been travelling…and you are still there, patiently waiting…THANK YOU – I hope you will go on enjoying my adventures whatever crazy things I might come up with!
Gratefully, Yours,
Ann-Christine
Leya 
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