Early this morning around 3 AM we finally arrived at home after a 13 hour long drive from Steigen. I never thought I would say these words, but thank God we’re home! I felt fine when I went to bed, but woke up this morning without being able to move due to a tremendous headache. Thankfully my painkillers decided to work for me today, so now I’m at least functioning to some extent. It was a long ten days up north. Don’t misunderstand what I’m saying here, it was nice seeing my parents again, and Odd, Lina and Marita, but I’m constantly reminded why I decided to leave Steigen in the first place. We did a lot of work while there, sorting through most of my childhood, throwing away lots and lots of.. crap. Some things were kept, other things given to charity – and the rest was just discarded as the garbage it was. I have collected a lot of crap over the years, but now it’s all sorted through. I found pictures, stuffed animals, letters and other small trinkets I decided to keep, reminding me of people who’s been dear to me but now is gone.

Theo had a ball together with Ozzy, Fenris and Tico, and it was extraordinary to watch them interact. Because my parents live as they do Theo was able to run free down by the Fjord, and of course he spent his time there running around like crazy. My mom called me up yesterday while we were on our way home, and told me that the others had spent the day looking for us and Theo. I think they considered him as a part of their pack, and didn’t want him to go back home so soon. Theo on the other hand has spent most of today sleeping. He’s experienced a lot this summer, and I’m sure he’s completely exhausted from all the impressions.

Anyway, my head isn’t really functioning here.. I just wanted to say that we’re back.

Oh, my spanking new and shiny iPhone 4 arrived today! I haven’t played too much with it yet due to my ridiculous neck and head, but my God.. the magnificent new screen is completely worth the money, believe you me! I’m amazed by the speed it used to reach me. Øyvind ordered it about an hour after it was released here in Norway on July 30th. Telenor said it was unconfirmed for August 15th, I got an e-mail telling me it was shipped on August 2nd – and it arrived today. How’s that for not sleeping in a queue to be one of the lucky ones!

Fear not, I’m still alive! As I said some posts ago, I’m back home in the north. I don’t think I ever told you, mainly because I wanted it all do be finished business before I told the world my news – but a few months back I actually sold my house. If you’ve been a regular reader for a few years, you’ve surely read about my house back in Steigen several times before, and now it’s no longer my house. It wasn’t easy selling the house. Mainly because I loved that house, and many, many hours of work and love have been put into it since I bought it in 2000 – but also because it’s hard to find buyers up here. I wasn’t planning on giving my house away for free, mind you! Earlier this year I found my buyer, and decided to let it go. Yes, it was a difficult decision, but the thought of being able to pay off the debt and not having minor heart attacks due to the arrival of unexpected bills made it a little easier, and I’m very happy that the new owner is someone who loves the house as much as I did – and still do. Unfortunately there was no money left when I had paid my debt, but I feel a lot lighter at heart now that I’m not paying thousands of NOK on a house I’m not actually living in – and I’m not moving back to Steigen anytime soon, as far as I’m concerned. Even though my heart this resides here in the northern part of Norway, I still don’t think I have a future here as long as I’m in a wheelchair – and that’s something that won’t change.

So, that’s part of the reason why we’re back up north – the other part is of course visiting my parents, and their dogs. It’s a long drive, so unfortunately it doesn’t happen too often. Now we’ve gone through a heap of boxes filled to the rim with.. crap. A lot of crap. Oh well, it had do be done, and I have found a few items worth keeping. Like my “Magic: The Gathering” cards! We still have a lot of work left, and Øyvind has gone with my dad to clear out the rest of the garage. I don’t really know how long we’re staying here, but we’ll be back home once we’re done sorting through these boxes. Theo seems to be enjoying himself together with Fenris, Tico and Ozzy – and he has even been swimming in the Fjord, although I don’t think he planned for it to happen. Yep. He’s a little dare-devil that one.

Apart from this, I’ve got nothing new or exciting to gossip about.

It happens very rarely, but once in a while I get a notice from Mr. Postman telling me that I’ve got a package waiting at the local post office, from a sender I don’t recognize. And that is exactly what happened today. I found a notice about a package from “BK, US” in my mailbox, no more info, and I couldn’t figure out what it could be. I’m usually in full control of what I’m expecting in the mail, but this one was a mystery to me. It had a tracking number, so I went online to see if it listed a sender, but all I could find was that it had been shipped on June 11th. My calendar didn’t say anything about having ordered anything around that day, so I remained puzzled. Then I suddenly remembered.. my dad had told me that one of my American cousins, sweet Kate, had told my mom that she had shipped a package for me, and the initials suddenly made complete sense! So I sent Øyvind to pick it up, ripped it open, and found another six bags of Popcorn Indiana® in the flavours: Original Kettle Corn, Smoked Cheddar Cheese Kettle Corn and Aged White Cheddar Kettle Corn – all jumbo bags! That’s another 1.7 kilos of the best popcorn there is, I think I died and went to popcorn heaven. I am truly forever grateful, and I hope this will last me a good while!

Kate, you’re the best, thank you a million times!

Logo courtesy of Popcorn Indiana®
Photos © Shamini Thevarajah ’10

Tonight I learned that our neighbor back home passed away. He was the last of the old people I grew up around, and even though I didn’t expect it to affect me as much as it did, I’ve couldn’t hold my tears back. I wish he could have experienced those last days of his life another way, not having to spend them in that awful nursing home mostly alone. I have many fond memories of this man, who was more of an uncle than a neighbor to me, and I know that I’ll miss him a lot now that he’s gone. I’ll keep these memories close to my heart, and always remember him as the sweet man with a heart of gold that he truly was.

Rest in Peace
Odd Øvre
✝ April 2nd 2010
You will be greatly missed

Igår tok vi turen til Nittedal for å besøke Øyvinds familie, og vi var dessuten invitert på den fantastiske ribba som jeg har fantasert om helt siden forrige jul. Ja, for familien H. lager uten tvil den beste ribba jeg noensinne har smakt! Til og med svoren var perfekt og minnet aller mest om bacon crisp, kan man ønske seg noe mer? Nam! Som om ikke det var nok, hadde svigermor disket opp med hjemmelagd riskrem og tilsvarende rødsaus av jordbær og tyttebær. Bare synd jeg var så mett at jeg knapt nok orket en tallerken med dessert. Nydelig, og uten tvil den aller beste maten denne jula!

Siden vi ikke feiret julaften i Nittedal denne gangen lå det noen pakker og ventet på oss alle tre, og det var kjempekoselig! Jeg fikk en M·A·C øyenskygge i fargen Vex av Licota, i tillegg til nok et par med deilige firkanttøfler, et flott kremhvitt sjal av bestemor, et utrolig nydelig og deilig sjal i grått alpakkagarn som svigermor selv hadde laget, sammen med et nydelig skjerf i hvitt og sølv til finere anledninger. Jeg trenger vel ikke nevne at jeg er stor fan av å holde varmen i denne fryktelige vinterkulda? Alpakkasjalet har allerede gjort nytte for seg mer enn én gang! Licota hadde dessuten kjøpt et stort, flott ullpledd til meg og Øyvind, og Theo fikk en etterlengtet tyggeknute fra dem alle som han ble veldig, veldig glad for. Det morsomme var jo at jeg bare dagen før hadde sagt til Øyvind at vi måtte kjøpe en sånn til ham når vi kom hjem, siden han hadde så mye moro med Dennis sin. Her er et bilde av storsjarmøren med julegaven sin på fanget til tante Licota.

Vi kom oss både frem og tilbake til tross for de enorme mengdene med snø, og Theo fikk hilse på resten av familien. Det var kjempekoselig å se alle sammen igjen, og det er synd at det blir såpass lenge mellom hver gang vi sees. Hjertelig tusen takk for den fantastiske middagen, og alle de fine gavene vi fikk!

Photo © Licota ’09