I was so excited about my 5th birthday party… I couldn’t sleep. I was so nervous that when the day finally arrived, I had a complete meltdown during the party. I ruined it.
Tag: Sweden
For my aunt Siv
These two women- my great aunt Helga, and my aunt Siv, had the most compassionate impact on my life. Helga- she taught me to follow my heart- MY HEART. Mine. Siv- she taught me to stay neutral and in joy and embrace children as fully formed human beings to be celebrated, not moulded. I remember…
Potato Nose Diaries (1977): Instalment 9- Torpet
Previously on PND: Instalment 1: Introduction Instalment 2: The First Entries Instalment 3: Do Tendu Jetés en Balance Instalment 4: Sex Education Instalment 5: They Don’t Know What It Is Potato Nose Diaries (1977) Short: I am 15 now Potato Nose Diaries (1977) Short: The Audition Instalment 6: The Trip to Paris Potato Nose Diaries (1977)…
Potato Nose Diaries (1977): Instalment 5- They don’t know what it is.
Previously on PND: Instalment 1: Introduction Instalment 2: The First Entries Instalment 3: Do Tendu Jetés en Balance Instalment 4: Sex Education Today’s instalment: © Katarina Thorsen 2018
The third letter home. November 18, 1968
Letters are among the most significant memorial a person can leave behind them. – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe — Previous posts: Package of letters to Sweden A letter home. November 1, 1968 Dream. Letters. Thought and Memory. Writing exercise. The Second Letter. As these translations focus on the letters from my mother to her best…
The second letter. November 5, 1968.
Why when I close my eyes and think about myself at a young age do I find myself immediately at the age of 6? What makes me go back to that little girl? That time? These days I feel tears well up easily. Not of sadness, but of fullness. Today I walked home from the bus…
Traditional craft: handwoven treasure by “Domestic Intervention Co.”
Being Swedish, I was raised surrounded by beautiful handwoven cloths. When I think about Sweden, I see looms. Textile art is in my DNA. My mother loved to tell me stories about my great grandmother– my name sake, Brita. Brita raised so many children with little money. She’d walk to town and check out the…
We were drawn together on Saturday- and now I know why…
I love family. And we have shared so much- all the life markers, the ups and downs of life and through it all there is that special glue that connects us. We had an impromptu get together at my place on Saturday- somehow ALL of us (niece, nephew, brothers, sister in laws, daughter, son, daughter…
A letter home. November 1, 1968
Recall the package of letters I received from my mom and dad’s friends in Sweden. LINK Letters are among the most significant memorial a person can leave behind them. – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Today I look at the first one… A letter from my mom to Rolf and Eivor dated November 1, 1968. We moved…
“Never forget you are Daddy’s girl.” Drawn Together excerpt series Part 4
Drawn Together excerpt series Part 4: My father always ended his letters to me with: Truth. Drawn Together- Maintaining Connections and Navigating Life’s Challenges With Art Roar’s art provided him with a much needed connection to the world after a devastating stroke. YOU CAN BUY THE BOOK HERE: – NEXT STEP: Workbook/workshop series under development to…
Helena, the film. A script idea by my father. Drawn Together excerpt series Part 3
Drawn Together- Maintaining Connections and Navigating Life’s Challenges With Art Roar’s art provided him with a much needed connection to the world after a devastating stroke. My father drew inspiration from many sources. His newspapers, his readings, his scrapbooks. Films like Hemsöborna. He not only drew, but wrote and wrote and wrote. Drawn Together excerpt…
Drawing on 50… journaling series Part 3. More cave time sans culpabilité. #solitude
I have a strong need for “cave time”, for cocooning, for processing. And now that I’m 50, I plan to work on allowing more of that time WITHOUT GUILT. For truly, the time spent alone with gentle input and voracious creative output is time VERY WELL SPENT. Today’s dream statement: I will spend more time…
Drawing on 50… journaling series Part 2. Dream participant: Maud!
My best friend, Maud, sent me the most wonderful email from Sweden yesterday! Her color choices and capslock always inspires me and illustrates her exuberant spirit! I think we should all write our emails like this! Today’s dream statement: I will have this extraordinary woman as part of my upcoming project/ women’s conference [details down the…
A beautiful surprise in the mail! A book of poems by and from the inspiring Henry Denander!!
THANK YOU, HENRY! I met Henry Denander when he backed my Kickstarter project, Molly! I continue to be inspired as I find out more and more about this talented Swede! Look what I got in the mail today!!! Henry’s The Accidental Navigator: Henry’s poetry is evocative of my fave, Charles Bukowski. How delighted was I…
Snippets from my 1977 Diary, Part 8 August (age 15): Maud, moving to Canada
This post dedicated to my mother, Karin, who suffered so much loss, but lived and loved so fiercely. — My Diary, 1977 SÖDERTÄLJE– translated from Swedish, word for word, unabridged, sic, ad nauseum Recall first post: My Diary 1977 For January 1977 go to: Snippets from my 1977 Diary, Part 1, January For February 1977 go to: Snippets from…
Snippets from my 1977 Diary, Part 7 July (age 15): Summer, potato nose
My Diary, 1977 SÖDERTÄLJE– translated from Swedish, word for word, unabridged, sic, ad nauseum Recall first post: My Diary 1977 For January 1977 go to: Snippets from my 1977 Diary, Part 1, January For February 1977 go to: Snippets from my 1977 Diary, Part 2 February For March 1977 go to: Snippets from my 1977 Diary Part 3, March For…
Snippets from my 1977 Diary, Part 6 June (age 15): Graduation
My Diary, 1977 SÖDERTÄLJE– translated from Swedish, word for word, unabridged, sic, ad nauseum Recall first post: My Diary 1977 For January 1977 go to: Snippets from my 1977 Diary, Part 1, January For February 1977 go to: Snippets from my 1977 Diary, Part 2 February For March 1977 go to: Snippets from my 1977 Diary Part 3, March For…
Snippets from my 1977 Diary, Part 5 May (age 15): Paris
May 14 Our trip to Paris: Södertälje to Helsingborg The Helsingborgs hotel is called “Stads Motell.” There are many TV’s outside of the room and one inside the room. We are traveling (Mom, me, Aunt Siv and cousin Gunilla) together on a bus trip. Our room number: 109. Orwald’s: 108. We have a colour TV. …
Snippets from my 1977 Diary, Part 4 April (age 15) The Audition
April 13 My birthday. I am 15 now. I feel big on the inside but small on the outside. I wonder if I will always feel this small and young. In one way, I hope so. Then I can stay younger longer. Time flies. I wonder what I will be doing and who I will…
Snippets from my 1977 Diary, Part 3 March (age 14) #puberty
Recall first post: My Diary 1977 For January 1977 go to: Snippets from my 1977 Diary, Part 1, January For February 1977 go to: Snippets from my 1977 Diary, Part 2 February My Diary, 1977 SÖDERTÄLJE– translated from Swedish, word for word, unabridged, sic, ad nauseum — March 22 So long since I last wrote. I have had…
Snippets from my 1977 Diary, Part 2 February (age 14) #innocence
Recall first post: My Diary 1977 For January 1977: go to Snippets from my 1977 Diary Part 1 January (age 14) For March 1977 go to: Snippets from my 1977 Diary Part 3, March My Diary, 1977 SÖDERTÄLJE– translated from Swedish, word for word, unabridged, sic, ad nauseum February 1 I am sitting at school again. We were…
Snippets from my 1977 Diary, Part 1 January (age 14)
Adolescence is just one big walking pimple. – Carol Burnett Recall first post: My Diary 1977 For February 1977 go to: Snippets from my 1977 Diary, Part 2 February For March 1977 go to: Snippets from my 1977 Diary Part 3, March My childhood had the luxuriousness of being just that- a childhood. So unlike the…
Anna T Fabulous- the legacy of the Bergström women.
My daughter, Anna, eats, sleeps, breathes, devours, obsesses, demands, wants and needs FASHION. I see the spirits of her Swedish female ancestors carrying on through her. My great grandmother, Brita Bergström, was obsessed with the latest fashion trends of her time but having 12 children and little money she had to improvise. Brita would look…