Cultural Differences and late sunsets.

The sun is setting late – and the light was glowing golden this evening about a quarter to 10.

Sunset - 25 June 07

Marit posted about their Midsummer Night Bonfire on the 24th.

It put me to thinking about 1998 and my six months in Bosnia. As a relatively senior officer, I was invited to a lot of official functions. One such one was Midsummer at SweBat for food, bonfire and music.

The US method of running a bonfire would be to plan it all out, publish an order which assigned every last bit of responsibility, from perimeter set up, through extinguishing the bonfire. And everything in between with regulations about what you can and can not burn. Probably would have wanted to have the fire inside a barrel and have everyone 1/2 a mile back.

The SweBat commander asked one of the NCOs to take care of it. The troops gathered all the stray wood and anything else that looked like it would be fun to burn; making a huge pile. They rounded up a couple of fire extinguishers. At the end of the short formal program the commander made an announcement along the lines that “fire is hot and if you are stupid enough to stand too close you are going to get burned.”

That bonfire burned for hours, lighting up the comradery and music. It was never out of control and those present brushed off the occasional flying ember. I am sorry I didn’t have a camera then, it would be nice to have pictures.

US Rules and Regs vs Swedish common sense and personal responsibility.

Socks

But this what you really wanted to see.
First – the Jacarandas are finished. I love both the color and the simple but great pattern.
Jacaranda finished
Next – since I am on a Chameleon Colorworks roll, I cast on for the Sea Dragon socks. The pattern is a knit-purl combination that only really appears when the sock stretched out. And surprise, it is a toe up sock. I am following the pattern for the first sock, from figure 8 cast on through short row heel. Depending on how it goes, I just might do the same for the second sock.
Sea Dragon Started

Two teens headed back to school, and the third catches the 0806 in the morning. I survived my PT today. And we will not talk about Bahn Cards. Maybe tomorrow when I have recovered from the latest round.

-Holly

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About Holly

fiber person - knitter, spinner, weaver who spent 33 years being a military officer to fund the above. And home. And family. Sewing and quilting projects are also in the stash. After living again in Heidelberg after retiring (finally) from the U.S. Army May 2011, we moved to the US ~ Dec 2015. Something about being over 65 and access to health care. It also might have had to do with finding a buyer for our house. Allegedly this will provide me a home base in the same country as our four adult children, all of whom I adore, so that I can drive them totally insane. Considerations of time to knit down the stash…(right, and if you believe that…) and spin and .... There is now actually enough time to do a bit of consulting, editing. Even more amazing - we have only one household again. As long as everyone understands that I still, 40 years into our marriage, don't do kitchens or bathrooms. For that matter, not being a golden retriever, I don't do slippers or newspapers either. I don’t miss either the military or full-time clinical practice. Limiting my public health/travel med/consulting and lecturing to “when I feel like it” has let me happily spend my pension cruising, stash enhancing (oops), arguing with the DH about where we are going to travel next and book buying. Life is good!
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5 Responses to Cultural Differences and late sunsets.

  1. Marit says:

    I was laughing when I read your comment on my blog(Thanks!), and also when I read what you wrote tonight …Yes, there is a bit of difference between US rules and -not only Swedish-scandinavian common sense. I’m afraid we laugh and shook our heads at the Americans sometimes. But it is still the country of dreams. Quite ambivalent feelings.
    Hope recovery goes as planned:-)

  2. Pat says:

    I love the purple Jacarandas! for your daughter right?? Lucky girl!!

  3. Holly – your socks are great. I found you via the Kauni KAL. Thank you for your picture of Heidelberg. My ex-husband is from there (actually Bad Schoenborn) and we would visit often. I miss it. Fortunately, my children still get to go to Germany with him frequently, and my daughter has been spending the year in Bremen. Have fun with the Kauni.
    Anne

  4. Dear Holly,

    Thanks for your comment on my angry post about medical school from long ago. Thankfully, I have graduated and am now preparing to start my first day as a real intern doing intern-things. I would welcome that contact info you mentioned, if the offer is still good I’d write more if this weren’t a comment for all to see, but it was the only way I could see to reply.

    Your website/blog is impressive — I wish I had the attention span and motivation to craft such an organized, informative, and cross-referenced record!

    -Roxanne aka Velvet Marmoset

  5. Kate says:

    Finally started on my first pair in SOS-2007, and first pick is Regia (of course).The midsummerphoto is beautiful. I’m headed norht in my country for my holiday, there the sun shines 24 hours right now.

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