Midsummer

 

Every year since I've been alone here, I've watched Smiles of a Summer Night, a film by Ingmar Bergman, on my birthday. Since I was born on the solstice, this always seemed like a good way to celebrate. 

This year, I went grocery shopping instead. Then I was  exhausted, so no movie. 

And now it's Midsummer...

Traditionally, Swedes celebrate Midsummer with food, drink and dance into the light summer night. Decorating and then dancing around a Maypole is common. In the archipelago, where I spent my summers, we danced on a jetty to oldtime music played on an accordion. Such delightful memories.

In Sweden, and some other countries as well, custom says that when a young girl picks seven different kinds of wildflowers and places them under her pillow, she will dream of her future husband. 

This year, I was supposed to go on a drive to the beach with my greatnieces and their dad, but after remembering the traffic and crowds at the beach on a lovely summer weekend, I suggested we go in the fall instead. 

So now, here I am spending Midsummer's Eve with Faith and Samson. 

I can't think of a better time to watch Smiles of a Summer Night again.         

            Wild Strawberries

Wild Strawberries, another film by Ingmar Bergman. I wonder how long he and his contributions to film will be remembered.

Midsummer's Eve

As Midsummer is celebrated in Sweden this weekend, I am reflecting on the Swedish National Anthem. My friend Fran, AKA Fishducky, went on the Internet and found an English translation after I talked about it on Swedish Flag Day earlier this month. What a nice thing to do, thank you Fran.

Swedish National Anthem

Thou ancient, thou freeborn, thou mountainous North,

In beauty and peace our hearts beguiling,

I greet thee, thou loveliest land on the earth,

Thy sun, thy skies, thy verdant meadows smiling.

Thy sun, thy skies, thy verdant meadows smiling.

Thy throne rests on mem’ries from great days of yore,

When worldwide renown was valour’s guerdon.

I know to thy name thou art true as before.

In thee I'll live, in thee I'll die, thou North Land,

In thee I'll live, in thee I'll die, thou North Land

That first verse does it for me, brings tears to my eyes and makes me homesick. 





Happy Midsummer's Eve to my Swedish friends. I hope the sun will shine, the Maypoles will be beautiful, and you will enjoy this most special of holidays. This time of year, it's difficult to be away from Sweden, believe me.

Midsummer, A Wedding, A Birthday, And A Bad Puppy

In Sweden, Midsummer was celebrated this past weekend with trimming of Maypoles, followed by dancing to music played on accordions and fiddles long into the light summer night. Well, that's how I remember it anyway. Tradition also has it that if a young girl picks seven different wildflowers and puts under her pillow, she will dream of the man she will marry. Of course these are old, old traditions and I don't know what modern families do. But I saw Maypoles when I was there in 2005 and I also picked this small bouquet of wildflowers and put in the window.

Saturday:  In Stockholm, there was a wedding: Crown princess Victoria married her long time love, Daniel. I believe they met when he was her personal trainer; at least that's what they said on CNN.

These photos from my computer are not good, but I loved how she reached out and touched his face during the ceremony. Such a sweet gesture.

All these people, 500,000 of them, gathered to celebrate the event. Whether you support the monarchy or not, a love story will always make you smile.

Sunday: Fathers Day -- I watched the end of the US Open golf championship at Pebble Beach, California. A young man, McDowell, I think his name was, from Northern Ireland, won. It was emotional for me to see his dad run out to embrace this son after he won. I could relate to this, coming from the old country and experiencing something that huge.

Monday: Summer solstice, longest day of the year (in Stockholm there is no midnight sun, but it doesn’t get dark either) and my birthday. I have a sentimental love for Sweden this time of the year. And who wouldn't…it's so lovely.

A midsummer night south of Stockholm.

This year, my birthday was HUGE: 70! When I was young, I thought for sure you were supposed to feel pretty old by 70. So far, so good…I feel just the same as always.

My husband came up, of course, and took me for a drive around the countryside. We saw the huge flock of sheep that mows the large fields all around this area. Some horses that could have been wild mustangs and fields full of wild mustard and poppies. Spring came late here; usually you see poppies in May. It was so much fun for me to just get out -- it has been about a month. I know my husband wanted to either cook something special for me or take me out for dinner, but I could see how very tired he was, so I suggested we just pick up a pizza. I could tell he was relieved. We got a Little Caesar's pizza with extra anjovis that we both enjoyed.

After that, we had this:

with ice cream. In Sweden, even birthdays, 50, 60, and so on, are celebrated in a huge way, but this one was just what I wanted and needed. Quality time with someone I love, simple time, spent together. I loved every minute of it.

Tuesday: We went to town in the morning and stocked up on food and supplies for me. When we came home, this darling boy

had not only pooped in the house, he had dragged out a box of classical CDs and chewed up a Pavarotti boxed set, where he destroyed the first CD, that included some of my favorite arias from Verdi operas. Then he also demolished one of my favorite CDs with music by Erik Satie. There was that hard plastic with sharp edges everywhere and one couldn't help but wonder how much of it was in his stomach. So I fed him a lot of soft bread and I think he will be OK.

They went back to LA late last night, so a short, but heartwarming, visit that I will treasure for ever.