In late June, Thomas, my late cousin's son, and his life partner, Michaela, came to visit for a few days.
As always on such occasions, the photo albums came out.
Good food was served, well, in this case, restaurant food. It was interesting to find a Latin Fusion restaurant in our town. The food from all over Latin America looked fabulous, the place was crowded, and my salmon dinner delicious.
The next day, we started with a trip to K-Mart to buy a present for Thomas's nephew, Oliver. There I found another Thomas, the little engine that could. And in this version, he will blow soap bubbles as he choo-choos along.
Swedes cannot live without their coffee. Every afternoon, they are kaffe sugna and must stop for a coffee break. The German bakery, where I sinned and had a huge eclair, was just the place.
After that, we stopped by the Mountain Spirit Center.
Like everyone else, Thomas and Michaela were surprised to find a place like it right here in the canyon.
Thomas dreamed of refried beans. Imagine that! So we went to a Mexican restaurant at the other end of town for dinner. On our way home, we had to stop to take pictures of a glorious desert mountain sunset. You can see my pictures here.
A brief visit that felt so rich. A certain understanding that you only get with the family you are born into. And that, of course, is something I left behind, without much of a second thought, when I came here as a young woman.
Glad to see you out & about & enjoying time with family & friends!!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a terrific post. The photos are beautiful, the story inviting - Suddenly I want to find and visit a Spirit Center . . AND - YOU look marvelous.
ReplyDeleteSuch a special time for you.
ReplyDeletexx oo
Beautiful photos.
Carla
Fantastic pictures. The healing has begun.
ReplyDeleteSå trevligt för dig att få långväga besök .Jag håller med om att kaffe är ett måste på eftermiddagarna ,ha en trevlig helg ,Nette
ReplyDeleteSpecial days together, strong family ties that are always there. Maybe the Mountain Spirit Centre was just right for you now, and to go out with family is healing in itself. So many thanks for your email, and caring loving thoughts, they do mean so very much to me, as we leave tomorrow. Hugs to you,
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful visit, A happy time for you!
ReplyDeleteRemember the past with joy and not regrets.
Hugs X
Your late cousin's son is very handsome. I loved seeing pictures of you. You are looking well!! Glad you had a wonderful visit!!
ReplyDeletei know how special and precious those times are. they look like a lovely couple to spend time with!
ReplyDeletethey are a beautiful couple, and all of you look like you are enjoying your visit.. you had so much to show them plus good food to. i like to sit and go through old photos, once in a while i drag out the albums from before digital and we page through. so glad you had this visit.
ReplyDeletelooks like a nice visit.
ReplyDeleteWhat a special time with two special people...lovely couple. When I was that young woman age, getting out and going places was my desires, and like you, I didn't give leaving family much thought? Now? Much what you said.
ReplyDeleteThose old photos are more precious than anyone of this day can imagine.
Looks like you all had a lovely visit. Nice to see all those smiles. : )
ReplyDeleteBeautiful couple, beautiful aunt.
ReplyDeleteWow, Inger, such a beautiful and uplifting post today. It's so good to see you smiling with that beautiful young couple. I'm so glad they visited and that you had your fill of wonderful food with folks you love.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed looking at all the photos.
I hope that you have a great weekend Inger.
Hugs,
JB
Do you ever think about going back? Just wondering. There's something about being a part of a Tribe...
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you had a good visit, and it's a positive thing to be getting out and socializing. Whenever I see your pictures of the desert, I am consumed with jealousy. At my house, even though I am on a mountain top, this time of year the forest is so dense I can't see three feet into the tree line. Sometimes it feels claustrophobic.
ReplyDeleteThey look like lovely people... of course they are, they're your family! Good to see you looking relaxed, and with that beautiful smile on your face.
ReplyDeleteHi Inger - so good to see these photos and the underlying enjoyment their visit brought you, together with those instincts that are family and the feeling of being a part of those heritage genes. Lovely ... and the story line - seems as though you had such a great time ... and I hope you'll keep in touch via Skype ... and see little Oliver and his Thomas That Could blow its bubbles ...
ReplyDeleteSo glad you've got your Sanctuary in the Canyon that you can visit .. and enjoy its peacefulness giving you that sereneness of spirit.
Take care and with lots of thoughts ... Hilary
Glad you had such a lovely visit with family. I do understand that feeling of familiarness that you only experience with family. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteSo very glad that you had this visit. Family is so important.
ReplyDeleteThomas, the little engine that could, figures prominently in the new Ant Man movie so that gift will be doubly appreciated I know. You look great and you beam with the feeling that only comes with a happy visit from family. The pictures made me feel as if I were there. Pace yourself. You made my Saturday morning, Roland
ReplyDeleteSo glad you had such a great visit and some tasty food. What a good looking couple they are, must run in the family. Good to see you out and about and having some fun. That is all part of healing.
ReplyDeleteInger, so happy you had family visiting with you. It looks like a full day was had by all.
ReplyDeleteYou are correct, family time has a different feel to it.....a lot more is 'understood' automatically.
Your photos are wonderful.
Dear Inger, I am glad you had such a lovely visit of your family. Thomas and Michaela looks a beautiful and nice couple. Sounds you all had a special and precious time.
ReplyDeleteLooks great that you all stopped by the Mountain Spirit Center. Love all pictures.
Lots of hugs and Love!
That is such a nice post, and nice for you to have some family visiting you.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures
How lovely to share these beautiful sunsets with your family. You are looking so wel Inger.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the family visit, Inger, it is fun to see our relatives! You are looking good too, so it must have cheered you.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely visit... and if a chocolate eclair is a sin, then there's no hope for me!
ReplyDeleteAh, youre still the strong gorgeous Swedish Goddess we know and love...that visiting looks like SO MUCH FUN!!!! I wish I was with you in the toy aisle ...and as long as you are on top of the blood sugar thing, I think that eclair was worth it! xoxo
ReplyDeletewow great photos and you really look relaxed and peaceful - it seems like their visit must have been great for you. Good to see.
ReplyDeleteSåg precis det här inlägget nu, vilka fina bilder. Det var verkligen jättetrevligt att få träffa dig äntligen och spendera lite tid tillsammans. Hoppas vi ses igen snart.
ReplyDeleteKram från mig och Thomas