Tuesday

21 March 2017

— proper, actual sunlight right here in Denmark

Good Morning All,

I awoke this morning around 5:00 and could not get back to sleep for the excitement of today’s plans. For the first time since Johs, Holly, and I moved in down here in Fjenneslev on 6 January, I shall be heading north to Copenhagen. 

Two months and two weeks. Not quite as long as my former farmer neighbor, Leif, who lived to be 88 and never went into Copenhagen. Not once. When I asked him why, he replied, “Never needed to.” 

(Leif, by the way, had the field across the dirt road from our house. I can still remember one spring morning looking out the front window and seeing him with a canvas planting-sack slung over his shoulder, walking the plowed rows, reaching into the sack every third step and spreading the wheat seed. It was like a Vincent or a Millet painting come to life.)

I am looking forward to  lunch with a former student and now friend at the All-You-Can-Shovel-In Pizza Parlor near the main station, after which I head with some trepidation to visit the new CIS school building down on the harbor. The place, remember, where the new administrators did not invite me or any alumni for the grand opening. With luck, I shall get to shoot the breeze a bit with former colleagues, if they are not too busy, or if I don’t start feeling too much like a ghost.

On the way home, I shall stop at the big Ikea near our old house for a couple of wall clocks, a solar butterfly or two, and two large picture frames.

Then, if I have the courage, I shall swing by Hultoften, the road where our old house used to stand. The new owner either already has or is in the process of tearing the house down. I guess my hope is, he will have finished the job, since otherwise our old home will only look wounded and betrayed, and break my heart.

I shall be going there to dig up some daffodil bulbs planted by Britta and me in the front yard, and a ring of them planted by Britta’s mother in the back yard. The new owner has said I can have them. 

As if this were not all exciting enough, I shall have my usual Tuesday night Skype-Chat-Backgammon Session with Lowell at 7:00.

I may have to stay in bed all the next day.

Go Well and Stay Well,

Bheka 

P.S. Six of you have now sent in book recommendations!