Stain-glass Eyes

Painting at the Fish Market Being part of a Danish family this past month, has been an eye-opener is so many ways.   I didn’t realize my American culture had so many negative, embedded, social behaviors.  Or maybe not negative, but non-existent.  I think in an earlier era they existed,  but I'm not so sure they do anymore.   I’ll have to explain by describing what I experienced.    I was told when the second door to an entrance of a home is open, it means, “You are welcome, we are home.”   More often on the weekend, but also I saw it during the Easter week holiday.  I began to look at the doors (in homes) when we were out on excursions, or even when we went to town.  I was astonished at how many were opened, exactly as it was explained to me. The Front Room at Gesche's When we went visiting a few relatives of my friend, Geshe’s, she didn’t call ahead.  We just went and saw whether the door was open or no...

An island on Easter weekend.  We drove a couple of hours, from Aabenraa, then took a ferry across to the island of Fanø. Gerhardt and Gesche on the Ferry Huge Shipping Area We visited a cousin of Gesche’s, who stays on the island when it’s not winter.  Her place was adorable.  She said a sea captain built it for himself and she’s pretty much kept it as he designed things for convenience and space-efficient.   Vibbe in Her Summer Home Beach Finds in the Window Ship's Bell Outside The Sea Captain on the Left is an Ancestor We walked to the beach after we had some cake and coffee.  She was happy to show us where the ships come through for shelter and safety.  We walked along the fence with historical events painted on it.  A local person hand painted each event.  The one Vibbe was most proud of was when a ship went down in the sea, by the island.  All 335 pas...

Small Village of Aabenraa This morning I heard a Danish saying, “April Does What it Wants!”  It’s a lot more realistic than “April Showers Bring May Flowers”.    Perfect way to describe April - All hell breaks loose!   Is there any saying to address the changes to our bodies and minds in April? Small Amounts of Sunlight are Worshipped! I’m certain they both go through a whole gamut of adjustments. a)  Longer daylight each week b)  Fresh foods beginning to show up in the market c)  The urge to sit in the sun d)  Outdoors enticing us to come out When daylight lengthens I get an uneasy feeling. This feeling slowly creeps in.  I don’t especially like the short daylight hours of winter, but when they start changing I feel like I have to accomplish more.  Like I have to get ready for something.  Maybe it’s instinct to prepare a nest, to gather food, to travel like the many animals do....