The Swedish Saga, Volume 1: Happy Birthday, America! 🇺🇸🎂🎉🇺🇸

Hejsan!  I’m standing (sitting) on Swedish soil as we speak.  This is the 2nd year in a row that I have spent the 4th of July in Sweden.  Last year I actually think I was in Prague most of the day…but nonetheless…not in America.  Terrible citizen. The flights here went pretty smoothly.  Our bags didn’t make it, but hey, I guess you can’t have it all.  Every. Single. Stinkin’. Year.😠  Every time we come to Sweden (whether 4th of July or not)…my in-laws always have the American flag up.  It always warms my heart and puts a smile on my face.  They truly are good people.  I sure don’t have a Swedish flag to put up when they come visit.  But in my defense…I don’t have an American flag either.🤷🏼‍♀️  We arrived yesterday…and did pretty much nothing.  Neither of us could really sleep on the flights, so we were pretty comatose when we arrived.  A nap…a falafel…and a walk were our excitements.  Oh yes…we know how to vaca.

We didn’t have anything major on the agenda today.  Our bags arrived sometime late this morning, so I was able to go for a run.  It felt good after sitting for 2 days.  The weather was perfect.  Upper 60s, no humidity, and lots of sunshine.  Yes…I would be jealous too.  There were so many people out!  A lot of people are off for their summer holiday.  It’s kind like us college instructors….just not as long.😆😁  This makes for great people-watching!  I have learned that I’m not great at people-watching and riding a bike at the same time.  Today I got honked at (it’s actually a cute little bell) by one guy and almost hit another.  I never understand why people always say “It’s like riding a bike.”  When was the last time you rode a bike?? 🤔  We rode toward downtown and had fika (which actually was more like happy hour) at this cute little place tucked on a cobblestone street, away from the hustle and bustle.  It was called “The Basement.”  Awesome patio…good vibes…and great rosé.🍷

Between our walk yesterday and our run and bike ride today…I snapped some random photos….(Click then hover over the pics to read the captions/commentary.)

Yard Art?

Don’t mind me…Just monkeying around….

These are sunbathers. Yes…just randomly laying out on a big lawn.

I was starting to feel a bit unAmerican by not being home for the 4th…again.  So…I decided that we needed to show the Swedes what the 4th of July was all about.  I wanted to bring some fireworks…or sparklers…or something with me…but my bag ALWAYS gets checked…and I was thinking that I really didn’t want to be the next person you saw on TV. (Breaking News:  Today, a caucasian, American female was arrested for what we think might be an attempted terrorist attack.  She tried to carry explosives onto a plane heading to Sweden via Swiss Airlines. We don’t have all of the information yet, but it is rumored that she was armed with sparklers.)  So….I passed. 😎

The Swede and I treated his parents to an American feast.  Burgers, guacamole (Americanish), watermelon, and of course….apple pie.  The Swedes tried to convince me that apple pie is more Swedish than it is American.

Whaaaaaatttt?!  Over the past 8 years, I have collectively stayed in Sweden for many weeks….and I have never seen nor been served apple pie.  And if you look at the pic of our apple pie…it is clear that the Swedes need a lesson or two.  If you google American foods, apple pie appears on every list out there.  If you google Swedish foods, this is what comes up.   Case closed.  Lindsay: 1, The Swedes: 0  The Swede wanted to get some Budweiser to make our American meal official, but the liquor store closed early.  So unAmerican. 

At the end of the day…I guess it doesn’t really matter where you celebrate. 241 years…land of the free…home of the brave…God’s amazing grace. #IndependenceDay    And yes…we dressed the part.

Blue shirt. Red shorts. White shoes. He’s so American.

I carried a watermelon in this basket.

Side Notes:

• The Queen of England got a raise. She is now making $97 million a year. The U.S. president makes $400,000…and he or she actually has to work for it. It’s so tough being royal you know.👸🏼🤴🏼
• Dear Airlines…It is very cruel to make us commoners walk through first class to get to our coach-side, general admission seats. It’s like walking through the penthouse suite to get to your room at the motel next door. Let’s work on an entrance toward the back of the bus. Thank you.
• Dear Chicago O’Hare…Why do my bags never make it all the way to Copenhagen?! I have needs in those bags. What am I going to do in Sweden without my special 4th of July shirt?! I can’t get that here! (Oh the feeling you get when you wake up on the other side of the wall…and realize you have no luggage…)
• Did you know that one store could carry so much caviar….and American Dressing?! Do we even have “American Dressing” in the states?🤔
  

  Caviar…I’m guessing it’s not such a delicacy??

  

  If it says it’s American….

Big Hugs.  Lots of Love.

P.M.T.