Home

Anne's home in the frame in this frame.

Today, Tuesday, my last day in Norway, in Oslo and on the continent.  We walked from Anne's flat to the Holmenkollen, the "island hill", the ski jump. It was a beautiful day. The first sunny day in Norway. Maybe 45 degrees, no wind. We walked up to the Olympic jump, went all the way to the top and there had a stunning panorama of Oslo, its islands, the forests all around. Then we took the tram to downtown Oslo to the World War II Resistance Museum. They only had 15 minutes left until they closed, so we got in free. Resistance was difficult then and now. Widerstand is the name in German. So important to know what to resist and to what to submit. Then we walked in the dimming light to a wonderful restaurant on the water for a final dinner and conversation.  A bottle of great Portuguese wine, pasta, dessert, wonderful ambience, good table waiting. Our waitperson was a 21 year old man from Cuba who spoke perfect Norwegian, English and of course Spanish. A last supper I suppose. We took public transport home.

The Oslo Harbor Fortress in a reflecting pool

Home, its where they have to let you in.  Or maybe its where you someday want to return. Or maybe its a place you have constructed for shelter: emotional and physical. Home.

Emma's birthday is on Thursday, Thanksgiving. I hope to make it back for that. I am grateful for all who made this trip possible: my parents, my European friends Gustav and Petra in Germany and Anne in Norway, my American friends, John Fry, Jeff Beebe and Lyndon Nygaard who got me to the airports, my 2nd cousins in the Twin Cities, Linda and Carol and finally my daughter who said, "Go Daddy."

Peace to all who have joined me in this journey by reading this blog.

Jeffrey Louden

The Holmenkollen Ski Jump in Oslo

At the skiing museum a chance to be the explorer

A selfie at the Holmenkollen