The promise of a new beginning

September 21, 2012

in Living abroad,Living in Sweden,Stockholm

stockholm water view

Looking out over Årstaviken from Södermalm.

It’s been a tough summer for us. OK, it’s been a shit summer. For the first time in the over three and a half years that I’ve been writing this blog, I’ve been at a loss for words – not sure what to say about what’s been going on. I’ve shared the barest of details, including the fact that we had to move out of our apartment in June. And since then, we have stayed in so many different places that I’ve lost count of the number.

Living out of a suitcase got old about two months ago. All of our stuff is STILL in storage. Every time I need something, it requires a monumental effort to find it in one of our two units. That is, if  I can find what I’m looking for at all. The other day, I looked for my favorite pair of boots and never did locate them in the jam-packed bundle of boxes and furniture. I cried right in the middle of the Shurgard storage unit.

Of course, it wasn’t really for the boots that I was crying. But rather the journey that led us to this tough place we’re in without a home. And you know what, in spite of the fact that it has been since an incredibly hard summer in so many ways besides our housing problems, I’m optimistic.

Tomorrow is the first day of autumn. And while I’m in no way ready for the dark days of winter that are heading my way, I am feeling some sort of resolution is coming. Because it feels like things are changing ever.so.slowly for the better for us this autumn. Some good life things are in the works that I will hopefully be sharing soon. And along with all that, I’ve got some changes that I will be implementing on the blog – mainly I’m going to start showing you some passages from my book. Going Viking, the memoir that I’ve been writing, is getting to be in a place where I’d like to share some of it with you. I look forward to hearing what you think about it.

{ 9 comments }

1 janerowena September 22, 2012 at 10:27

I had a strong feeling that things weren’t easy – finding accommodation, deciding where to live on top of everything else. I hope things do get better for you soon, I’m sure they will. Once we were surrounded by removal men and boxes and my husband was sitting on a chair by the van as they loaded our furniture, negotiating a cottage for us to rent for the following day! Our furniture ended up in three separate places for storage, all because the people we were buying from backed out at the last moment. Five years later we can laugh about it, but constant moving is just hell on earth.

2 debora September 23, 2012 at 07:20

Really looking forward to reading excerpts from Going Viking!
And to hear you’ve found a cozy home for the long winter to come. You will. Hugs and cocktails are always available to you and Robert here in Nacka.

3 Lou Lou September 23, 2012 at 11:56

Looking forward to reading the snippets, cannot wait!

4 Sandra September 23, 2012 at 14:21

Jane, Thanks so much for sharing your own journey. It always helps to know someone else has been through the same stupid stuff. Do you write a blog, by the way?

5 Sandra September 23, 2012 at 14:23

Debora, Thanks so much. A writer friend recently asked why I wasn’t sharing any of the book on the blog and I had no good reason why. So stay tuned. As for cocktails, name the day!

6 Sandra September 23, 2012 at 14:24

Lou Lou, Thanks for the support. It will be good to get some feedback!

7 janerowena September 24, 2012 at 11:37

No, I don’t write a blog because I know too many people! It would be so easy to tread on too many toes. I have been tempted to, so many times, but my life is going through a quiet phase at present which would no longer make particularly interesting blogging. I run a closed, members-only gardening website.

8 Antropologa October 1, 2012 at 20:40

I’m sorry it’s been a tough time, and hope things are settled for when winter starts. Really looking forward to reading bits of your book!

9 Sandra October 1, 2012 at 22:39

Thanks Antropologa. I appreciate that. I know you’ve had your tough times too here. As for the book, thanks for the encouragement!

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