I SEE

I read a post by Steve E "Alone and Loneley".
I think many of us can relate to that feeling; being alone midst in a crowd.
One of my favorite poems, as a very young teenager,was about this topic, written by the poet, Sigbjorn Obstfelder. (Wikipedia link here).
I searched the Internet for a possible English translation and found it on YouTube.

Daniele Sepe - Jeg ser - I see - Vedo - ENG - ITA SUBBED

I see, I see
I'm looking at the sky
Grey clouds are covering the sun
So this is the world
Without time nor boundaries
The home of all heavenly bodies
Then I see
Houses
Bell towers
And fields in the distance
So this is the earth,
Where everything grows,
The home of mankind,
Then I see
Well dressed gentlemen.
Children riding on a carousel,
And an elegant Lady,
Further on
Someone is beginning for a stale piece of bread,
I think something doesn't work
On this planet.
I see, I see,
I must have come to the wrong globe,
Here is so weird.


Edvard Munch painted the Scream about the same time as Obstfelder wrote his poem. They were related souls.

RUBY COMMENTS

No need of a walking chair. Curiosity made baby girl stand on her own feet.
Interesting.. even kept her on her toes..

The reason why I gave up keeping books in alphabetically order

As google will not let me comment on my Ruby Tuesday blog under "comments",
I have to publish them here.
Dear Colleen,
See what I mean; no control at all. These things which seemed so important beck than...
Can you imagine; when the health care nurse came for her first home visit, Gunnar and I had made a list of 20 "vital" questions?

Ralph,
In retrospect everything about the babies are adorable. Back then I clearly see, I should have laughed even more.

Liz,
It was fun and overwhelming being overpowered by my four month old daughter.

Dear Mrs. Mac,
Serina was and still is strong willed. That has made her a survivor, and I so respect her for that.
Being a mother still is a challenge and question of balance to me.
I am grateful all the time..
I find the Norwegian health care system for children very satisfying. The town is divided into four stations and parents have free nurse and pediatrician till the child is seven. The first two years. the baby is regularly admitted for controls and vaccinations. Vaccines are free and the parents may decide whether the baby should have it or not. Rich and poor are given the same, first rate treatment.

Dear Sonja,
You are right.
Serina is as dear to me to day as she was the day she was born.
She has brought far more smiles than tears into my life, and given life a new dimension.
The day Serina was born, my parents, my brother and Gunnar were out, celebrating. Gunnar saluted that they all had gotten a new status in life. (Fatherhood, uncle and grandparent-hood)

Gizelle,
Indeed, time flies, like a watch in the morning.
I wish I knew back, then how valuable every minute was.
I still find time my most priceless asset.

EG Wow,
I fully agree. Some mental characters are there from the beginning. I guess I wasn't aware of that back then. Physical heritage is accepted, likewise partially gifts like intelligence, musicality e.t.c.

My grandma, mother of nine, used to say, "God gives the talents. How they are used, is every humans responsibility".


Pagan Sphinx,
I agree. Good public health care should be available to everyone.
If we say that all humans are of equal value, they should be treated so as well.
Finding those long forgotten photos was a huge source of joy for me as well.
One single photo can make doors of memory wide open.

Dearest Terry,
I never knew that you have taken care for a baby for a year.
I might have had you for a candidate to such unselfish work. You have a heart of the size of a barn.

(My doctor says the only thing you can use washing ears with, is your elbow!!) No Que-Tips.

We had baby "dolls" in nursery school, and even exams in baby caring. I'd forgotten all about it 20 years after. Besides, child care theory will always turn out to be inadequate. There are thousands of questions professors cannot figure out on beforehand.
I'd thought you to be an expert though, with 7 younger siblings.
I used to bombard my friends with all kinds of questions. Till this day I am grateful for their patience with me.

Dear John C,
I'm so glad you are rewired! I have missed you and your
surprising and new way of seeing things.
For your hip I'll recommend you to contact the American RAW wrestler association. I think Hulk Hogan might have a gold belt or two to spare...

Ann,
but, feeding satisfied babies are also the most rewarding situation I can think of.

Maurice,
Yeah, cute.

Robin,
When my book of life shall be opened, this will belong to
"Eternal moments".

Gattina,
How lucky you are; grandchild.
Looking at old pictures really reminds us about how happy and lucky we were.

I like your cat-sign.
I might as well hang by the entrance door.
I think being adopted by Miss Kitty has taught me to accept that she is but a loan.
I cherish every day we share, and accept that she probably will be gone one way or the other before me.
I guess she might deliver some kittens in a short while. After that we'll have her sterilized.

Steve E,
You pinpointed the nature of our daughter.
She was born a B human.
Full of joy, laughter and energy when it was bed time.
We kept an arsenal of song books and fairytale books by her bed.When her dad fell asleep in verse # 35, she was not amused.

Carletta,
Those were the best moments of my life.
Serina was the kind of baby who would make everyone smile.
Guess I'm not exactly objective, when saying so.

Dear Amrita,
Yes I was both proud and happy. I still am.
And a lion mother, if and when that is necessary.
Amrita,
You need to have a chat with Tutankhamen for your gold needs.
Oh, I wish there were something I could do to make your pains go away.
I think the ayurveda medicine have good alternative treatments. I still have your holy basil growing in our living room.I have harvested some leaves for morning tea. It's definitely an indoor plant in arctic areas.
I wish you all well, and hope the spring will releave your pains.

From Felisol

SICK LEAVE

As much as blogging has become a part of my daily routines and joys, and my blog friends are an immense source of inspiration, spiritual fellowship and interpersonal love and understanding, I have to put myself on sick leave for a while.
I've had as a principle that I at least should answer and keep in touch with the ones that bothered to visit and comment on my blog.
Lately I haven't been able to do that, and that makes me feel so shameful.
I have been struggling with this chronic fatigue syndrome for two decades, lots of broken bones due to osteoporosis, arthritis and now also gastritis.
I am blessed to live in Norway. I have appointment with our family doctor once a month, physiotherapist once a week, and I go hiking and swimming also a least once a week to keep this old machinery running.
I have family, a few, but dear friends and best of all husband Gunnar and Serina who care about me, and vice versa.
Thanks to Teach Mary and Gunnar I also have reached a new level of enjoying photographing.
To me blogging has been about sharing, preferably of the good things in life. Thinking about my blog friends make me feel rich, happy and conscious about values and interests beyond my own sphere.
I will in random order thank Terry, Amrita, Mrs. Mac, Saija, Lidj, Crown of Beauty, Trish, Debbie, Sonja, Carol Ann, passing thru Bob, John C, Jim, Teach Mary, Leora, Robin from Israel, Pilgrim father David, Annie, Julie LBM, Constance, Pat, Diane, Cheryl, Deb, Maria Stahl, The Montreal Sisters, Colleen, Kris, E G Wow (who taught me to enlarge photos), Carletta, ilandavita, Nora Johnsen, reg, jel,
Ralph and Patti and Raven. You have all put so much wisdom into my life, broadened my horizon and opened my heart.
I will be back. I simply cannot be without you.Please bear over with me and say a prayer if you feel like.

Treasures from summer and fall 2010. They are neither photo-shopped nor enlarged, but you can double click to see more details.
A walk in the forest last Sunday.

Sundown in October. The lighthouse of Haugesund, called Tonjer Fyr, used to have two guardsmen working on shift. Now they being are computer supervised.

Each fall there's Friday swimming by candlelight in the public swimming pool. Ice water, fruit, candles and soft music with admission for adults only. We are five friends who love spending two relaxing hours there.

Gunnar and I just have to visit the old church on the Karmoy island now and then, a perfect place for sundown shots.

Our dear aunt Lilly also lies at the church yard nearby. She was a special dear relative and friend to all of us. Paying her grave a visit is comforting. This summer I have lost two of my "prayer children" and one dear friend from early childhood. Kirsten was in particular a hard blow. I am still shook by her too early departure.

Gunnar hiking in rough weather. Can't you see he's related to many viking chiefs?

Hiking in the mountains surrounding our town just one week ago.

Heinrich Heine's beautiful poem "Auf dem Brocken" should be accompanying this photo.

Heller wird es schon im Osten
Durch der Sonne kleines Glimmen,
Weit und breit die Bergesgipfel
In dem Nebelmeere schwimmen.
Hätt ich Siebenmeilenstiefel,
Lief ich, mit der Hast des Windes,
Über jene Bergesgipfel,
Nach dem Haus des lieben Kindes.
Von dem Bettchen, wo sie schlummert,
Zög ich leise die Gardinen,
Leise küßt ich ihre Stirne,
Leise ihres Munds Rubinen.
Und noch leiser wollt ich flüstern
In die kleinen Lilienohren:
Denk im Traum, daß wir uns lieben,
Und daß wir uns nie verloren. 

The trail leads through thick woodland.

After sundown, still in October.

Overlooking the Bay of Whales.

Tonjer lighthouse in golden fairytale light.

Am car exhibition. I've watched the movie Convoy numerous times. Imagine how I'd love sitting behind the steering wheels of this machine.

My mother is busy in her garden, cleaning her house every Saturday and making dinner everyday. Can't you see how she's full of joi de vivre?

Our October Garden, preaching fall.

Salvation Army's second hand shop.I love spending time and money there. Recycling and money for a good cause.

Gunnar are only interested in buying books.

The garden in September, while one still could have a nice cuppa outdoors.

My mother was both happy and surprised when a card from Terry and Bernie found way to her house.

Beating my Mom in Chinese checkers after midnight.



Excalibur at the am car exhibition.

This Cadillac got my vote.

Tractor eggs from Jaeren.

Painfully realistic art exhibition. Names of murdered girls in North Mexico.
One was encouraged to embroider one of the names of the anonymous female victims.

Sundown by Olberg sea.

Olberg harbor.

A Catapillar of American size crossing the road.

Ryvarden lighthouse in September.

Lunch by Ryvarden, eating Norway's # one outdoor chocolate bar.

Ryvarden has been converted to a so called "culture lighthouse". Here we attended the launching of a new book about Norway and Iceland.
Gunnar brought an elder biography about his great aunt Bjorg, written by the Icelandic ambassador. They had met nine years ago in Iceland and were happy to reunite. He of course asked her to sign the book.

This summer my stomach have been acting severely up. This shrimp baguette brought me into lots of trouble. I love sea food, so it felt like a major setback.
Gunnar, on the other hand, is enjoying his food, and hopefully will become even better after seeing a famous Egyptian stomach specialist.

Serina, soaking wet, after dancing a wild Indian rain dance on the terrace.
"We don't have rain like this where I study," she proclaimed.

Idyllic Skipper street in old Skudesnes on the island.

Serina while free climbing the mountains of the park to reach the Moon stone.

Thought Mrs. Mac might like to see a knitted ad pole for Norwegian handicraft.
The finest rose area of the district.

People actually still live in these picturesque houses.

Look, how the house is built to adjust to the street.

Thought of Jim's Adi.

My mother's still making the best waffles, but Serina is giving her competition.

She can also act naughty when she feels I am being too fuzzy with my camera.

Mom with her Sunday hobby, word puzzles.
She will never do any "work" on a Sunday and dislikes me even knitting on a holiday.

The most precious love of my life, Sernia.