The Swedish Saga, Volume 3:  I Do…and I Don’t

I got honked at again while riding bikes. But this time…it wasn’t a cute little bell. It sounded like a dying police siren, and it scared the living daylight out of me. My butt came off my seat at least a half a foot…and my bike curled up in a 90 degree angle, throwing me forward. My life flashed before my eyes. I had no idea what had just happened.  Hey, dude…yes…I was riding on the wrong side…and yes I might have been looking out at the beach instead of looking forward…but no need to get your panties in a wad. I’m a tourist who doesn’t get to see the beach too often. Cut me some slack!  The Swede had completely stopped because he was laughing so hard.  Thanks, buddy. Thanks for telling me I was riding in the wrong lane. Appreciate it. I don’t think I like you anymore.  

Yesterday was the big day. 👰🏽🤵🏼 Ten years and six kids later…Crazy cousin Eva finally tied the knot. Yes…I said six kids.  Eva…the one person (outside of The Swede’s immediate family) who always makes a point to see us when we are here. ❤️❤️❤️  This was the second Swedish wedding I have been to.  They are quite different.  In America…the bigger the better.  In Sweden…It’s more personal and intimate.  There were around 50-55 people there last night…and that is considered to be somewhat big.  I’ll have to admit…The Swedes know how to do it right.  The wedding started at 3:00 in the afternoon…and I think we walked in the house around 2:00 this morning.  I was dragging.  I haven’t conditioned myself properly apparently. 

The ceremony was not too off from what we would consider a traditional wedding to be. They don’t do wedding parties, and the dad doesn’t usually walk the bride down the aisle, but other than that, it was fairly the same. Church (a very pretty one), white dress, the whole shebang.  I will say the priest kind of looked a little….off.  Like maybe he time-hopped straight out of Woodstock or something.  All he needed was a leather vest and a flowered-y headband tied around his crown.  Instead he dawned a priestly robe with a cross around his neck.  The Swede thought he looked like someone off Harry Potter.  He did have Snape-like hair. 

When we first arrived at the reception, we played a trivia-type game to see how much we knew about the bride and groom.  We were welcomed with champagne and pre-dinner snacks.  Dinner was a buffet-style spread of very Swedish food (smoked salmon, eggs with shrimp, salad, pasta, etc.).  Most of the people I sat around I already knew…which made dinner conversation much easier.  The couple of people that I didn’t know made a new friend before the night was over.  Lucky them. 😁 Several songs were sung (very traditional here), speeches were made, and the clinking of glasses rang through the room.🥂. It went a little something like this…

And then there’s me….

After dinner, some “professional” dancers opened up the dance floor with a little jingle. 💃🏼💃🏼💃🏼

People danced for hours.  Both of the weddings I have attended served what we like to call “Fourth Meal”.  This consisted of traditional Swedish hot dogs with all of the fixings.  I’m not a hot dog eater…but these are so dang good.  I might have had two. At the end of the night….I got to play American Q & A with a really nice guy who was curious about American ways…if the movies portray us accurately…etc. What movie are you referring to?  Legally Blonde? Planet of the Apes?  I’m not sure how to answer this….

The bride and groom seemed to have a fantastic time…and I’m genuinely happy for them both.❤️

The inability of mine and The Swede’s picture taking is pretty amazing. After looking at pictures from all 11 hours of wedding festivities…these were the best ones we could come up with.

Of course we did…

Yeah…No idea about this one.

Fourth Meal…So good.

Today was lazy.  I came across an eye mask and decided to try it out since the sun was coming up shortly after I went to bed this morning.  Next thing I know…it’s 11:15. Whaaaaat?! Where have you been all of my life and why are we just now meeting?!  It’s kind of like when I was introduced to a neck pillow….8 years after I had been flying overseas.  First night of uninterrupted sleep since I have been here.  Felt amazing.  We met up with one of The Swede’s good friends from college for fika.  They try to meet up every time we come. They don’t see each other often…but when they do…they always pick up right where they left off.  One of those kind of friends.

Side Notes:

• Sweden makes a dang good pizza…and maybe an even better calzone…but for whatever stupid reason…they don’t cut their pizzas.  What do they expect…that we will cut it ourselves?  Dear Swedish pizza maker….Yes, you do know how to make a good pie.  But…in case you didn’t know…we pay for the convenience of you making AND cutting our pizza.  Do I need to ask for cheese on it too?  Geeeeeeez. #YesImFrom America #Capitalismatitsfinest
• The other day was National Bikini Day. Oh the thought after that calzone I ate for dinner.😑. A friend of mine sent me this article about a bikini made from pizza. Check it out here. For a measly $10k…you can have it custom fit for you body. Greasy pizza….custom fitted to parts I feel like should never see greasy pizza….The things people come up with these days….Food for thought.🤔😝

Big Hugs.  Lots of Love.

P.M.T.