not among strangers

3-22-2008
"Half of my roots lie there - snowy, soggy, uphill, white siding, red cabinets, attic, trunks, radio, books, newspapers, stove, lumpy beds, mold, buttons, strings, lace curtains, doilies, rocking chair, soap. I miss my family tonight but I know I am not among strangers."


I met my great great aunt Lina, who is 95 and lives in Stavanger. We said hello and goodbye in one evening.

Leif, Ingeborg, Signy, Lars, and Elisabeth Topnes. Leif is my grandpa's cousin.

The place that I am named for: Golvdalen. My great great grandfather Lars lived here on the island of Ombo near Stavanger.

can't pronounce

Verdun, Reims, Paris, Toulouse, Barcelona, Valenica. 10 days.

Too much has happened - my journal is the most reliable source:

3-10-2008

"Sunday is a blur - the longest bus ride of my life ended with a dingy hotel in Verdun where I shared a double bed with a girl I barely know. Highlights of the trek from DK to France include the ferry, chocolate eggs, watching Amelie, and having a mental breakdown with Caitlin - flower spritzing and a lot of chatting by the eleventh hour.

Took a nice long soak in the tub in a city I can't pronounce (something in the back of your throat and up your nasal passage, silent "m") R-E-I-M-S."

3-15-2008

PARIS = UNCANNY

"Remember walking to the Sacre Coeur through the crowded narrow streets, up the gradually inclining landscape, past the woman screaming at the man, and up the million jillion stairs to the church. Then, remember my flushed face and beating heart and sweaty palms as I walked around and looked up at the heaven of human architecture. Maybe I even prayed."

3-16-2008

"Luggage. So sick of luggage. The weight of my belongings. Remember the pigeons in the train station - dirty, intrusive, like insects that don't bite. Now it is light and the window is filled with green green green and a cloud-shaped sky. South we go. A flock of train cars and suitcases."

alwayslovemiss

I am intrigued by inverse, opposites, and shadows. I like to think big and abstract. I always consider how easy something would be to paint. On most days, the weather = my mood. I love organizing, rearranging, and de-cluttering. I have a newfound love for green vegetables. Next week at this time, I will be in Paris. For now, this is where I am supposed to be.

mood swing

When I woke up this morning, there was blue sky and sunshine.

Mid-morning, dark clouds had crowded the horizon and it hailed for a few minutes (but the sun was still shining).

A few hours later, it was overcast and raining.

And tonight? Snow.

HAIL TO THE SUN AND S(NO)W TO THE RAIN.