This week I feel like staying in Sweden. Home is wherever I am and it is what I make of it. It will be a challenge for me wherever I go if I am not good with myself. I have heard someone say long ago, “wherever I go, there I am”. I can’t run away from myself.

One year ago tomorrow I spent the evening on our boat in American Lake watching the 4th of July fireworks with my husband and my neighbor Donna. I had a feeling we needed to go out but mostly because Donna was moving. I did not realize I would also soon be moving. One thing about life is it always changes. We may not always adjust easily but life has a way of stretching us, even when we don’t like it. How I react is up to me. I can choose to be the victim or I can choose to live my life by learning and growing.

I think I am doing that. Learning and growing. Learning to take responsibility for my actions and my part. Learning to accept the things I can not change, as they say in AA. I have done a lot of stretching. Lots of it not wanted in the beginning but as I look back on the last 8 months I can see I was brave and strong at times. I was also weak and cowardly but all these things have moved me along to where I am. Sometimes I will stand still and sometimes I will move forward. A little at a time, bit by bit.

Friday I went out with a new friend to town. They had food trucks in stortorget (the big square). So many different types of food. We went for African, a half plate which had rice and some sauces. One was super spicy but the rest were very good. Then we went to a local pub and talked for a couple hours. Really enjoyed our time together.

Saturday I slept all morning but spent the afternoon socializing. I went out for a walk with my neighbor and her dog. It had been a while since we had seen each other so it was nice to catch up. I bought a salad for dinner as I was meeting up with some friends for a picnic. We had fantastic weather for the event and it was so much fun!!! Loved meeting new people and seeing others I knew already and learning more about them.

It really hit home this week, I have been creating a life all along. I was not allowing myself to see it. It is getting easier as time goes on but sometimes the realization I am so far away from my family is tough. It is not as easy to get home but if I think about it, it was also 12 to 14 hours by car, just a few hours by plane but still about 8 for total travel with airport and driving, etc. All in the way I view it.

Tonight I went to a concert. I purchased tickets a long while back. I thought it was for an artist I really liked named Tomas Ledin. He was here at the arena near my apartment and I was ecstatic. Two-weeks ago I realized somehow I had tickets for a completely different event called Diggilo. A summer concert event with lots of different artists and not a one was Tomas Ledin.

I was very disappointed to say the least. I fretted about what to do and decided to go but last minute my friend decided not to go which was another disappointment. I went by myself but couldn’t get to my seat because I arrived late so I sat way up top and stayed for an hour. At the break I walked home. It was ok but was not in the right frame of mind to stay. However this location is super convenient for that arena.

When I got home it poured rain with lightning and thunder, so glad I was home. Now the concert is almost over and it has stopped but I am still glad I came home. This coming week I hope to finish up my bookkeeping and get ready for a big week the following week.