Am I weird?

I don't know, but maybe? It's Saturday night, and I've spent the whole evening alone watching a couple of TV shows on DVD, listening to some good music, looking out of the window, thinking about my past, praying, sensing a mild breeze from my window and being overwhelmed by a sense of gratitude. There have been so many good things happening in my life, and there have been so many wonderful people that I've been fortunate to meet, and tonight I had time to think about it. I guess it was my time with the family album yesterday that started it all. Tonight I thought about my life until now, all the people I've met, all the places I've been and all the kindness, care and love I've experienced. Even in times alone I've never been left in loneliness. There's an old word in the vocabulary that covers my experience of my life until this day, it's "GRACE", amazing grace! Am I weird? Probably!

Picking up memories

Since I'm having my vacation right now, and I'm spending it in Oslo, I have time to do a lot of things. This morning I've been spending some time with one of the old family albums. It's strange to see yourself as a four- or five year old. To look into the eyes of that child and know that it is yourself. Two photos drew my attention this morning. One is with my grandfather and one is with my father. It's kind of funny, because photos can be deceiving. I remember when the photo with my grandfather was shot, because it was a completely arranged situation. I think it was the only time ever that I was that close to him, and I guess it was the only time ever that we read a book together. Kind of funny isn't it? I do remember him as an incredibly nice person, but always at a distance, with my grandmother as the central person for me. I think I would have loved to know him as a grown-up man, but he died when I was ten.

Me and Grandpa, back in the mid 70s.

The photo with my father is interesting. This is typical for his sense of humor. I've obviously been sleeping, and has just woke up. My father is pointing at me with a smile on his face. My father had a lot of artistic gifts. One of them was being a fabulous storyteller. Several mornings I remember waking him up begging him to tell me stories. It wasn't stories from books, but he made them up right there, involving me and the rest of the family in incredible stories from far-a-way countries and kingdoms. Sometimes I was the hero of the story, and what a feeling that was! Sometimes he brought a sketch book and made incredible drawings and sketches. I loved it and I am in some ways puzzled by the fact that after being a commander in the army, he spent his whole life in a factory. It's actually a little sad. What would have happened if he'd been able to free these artistic gifts? I don't know, maybe he would have felt more fulfilled and would have been happier? Hard to say, but I'm sure glad I was able to hear the stories, see the drawings, and experience that art can make ties between fathers and sons, parents and children.

Dad & me

Queen Mary 2 in Oslo

The world's biggest cruise ship, Queen Mary 2 arrived in Oslo yesterday. What a ship! I had to have a look at it yesterday and went downtown to see it. I was not the only one. From Aker Brygge at the other side of the harbor I could see the ship almost hiding Akershus Castle. An impressive sight it was, and I was reminded of stories of how it was when the Norwegian America Line arrived in Oslo on it's journey to and from New York. Have a look at a couple of my photos of Queen Mary 2.


Queen Mary 2 in Oslo, July 26, 2005 Both photos: Norwegianblogger

South Coast in summer

I've spent the last week in a cottage at the south-coast of Norway with four friends. This is the ultimate summer spot for me. The sea, the boats, the sun, the vegetation - there are few other places that can compete with the south-coast of Norway. We spent the first day close to Portør, swimming and enjoying the sun and the view of the ocean.

Close to Portør, Norway Photo: Norwegianblogger 2005

Another day we went to Jomfruland, an island with 70 inhabitants situated far out from the coast line. I enjoyed it tremendously. We went for hikes, for a swim in the ocean and spent hours in the sun.

Jomfruland, Norway Photo: Norwegianblogger 2005

In the evening we enjoyed a concert with the Norwegian poet and artist Odd Børretzen. The setting was perfect. The stage was set directly underneath two light houses, and with the humour and jazzy feeling of Lars Martin Myhre and Odd Børretzen's poetry and music, the evening was made perfect.

Lars Martin Myhre and Odd Børretzen in concert, Jomfruland, Norway. Photo: Norwegianblogger 2005


Coastal charm in Kragerø, Norway. Photo: Norwegianblogger 2005

Sad news from London

The news last week about the terrorist attack in London left me numb. I was there less than a month before the attacks and used the tube all the time. I was at all the stations that were targeted. It makes me feel sad and furious! Both London and New York are cities that belongs to the world. There are people from every nation, living there, sharing life and struggling to communicate and to live together peacefully. These kind of attacks puts fear as a central factor, and knowing that this is the goal for these people leaves me disappointed and sad about the state of humankind. I hope they will never succeed! At the same time: What if we give away all our rights for privacy and personal freedom to the government? That would not be right either - and I wonder if this is the goal of the terrorists as well. To crush democracy and personal freedom on the altar of security.

Live 8 Live

I saw parts of the incredible Live 8 live -concert yesterday, and what a concert it was. Many highlights, but for me the three songs with Annie Lennox stands out. Her voice is still strong and better than ever, and at stage she's there with authority and integrity. Events like this never leave me untouched, both in 85 with the original Live Aid concert and yesterday's concert Left me very touched. Seeing people from all over the globe sharing the same event, experiencing the same songs, the same message and acting on it is great. It binds us together as a human race, in spite of our differences and disagreements. In 1985 I was only a teenager being totally excited about being able to see musical heroes live from the UK and the US. Even though I only saw the concert on TV I felt I was part of history. Being young, being hopeful, believing in change. Yesterday, seeing Pet Shop Boys playing in Moscow, Nelson Mandela giving a speech in South Africa and A-ha in Berlin made me remember how the world was like in 1985. What changes hasn't happened in the last 20 years? The world has changed, the issues have changed, there is freedom in those countries, the artists that were young back in 85 are still there, but they have aged. I have aged, and am now a man, but the concert made me realize that hope is still there. Yes, the world has changed, but there are still problems in Africa. The world still needs a Bob Geldof and a Bono to make us remember, and to challenge us! Yesterday the task was signing our names in a global fight for justice. Did I sign? Yes, and I felt a bit of that youthful hope I had back in '85 as well.