Saturday August 22nd~

After silence, that which

 comes nearest to expressing

 the inexpressible is music... 

Yesterday was Aleah's turn to 

go with us to the mall and choose

 a few things from everyone's

 favorite store, called Normal. 

 It's similar to a Target but 

on a much smaller scale. All 

of Horten seems to shop there.  

The is a little bit of everything 

and prices are reasonably. 

 The girls love this store.

Of course after every outing

 there is always ice-cream.

Today Arvid and I go to a nearby 

city called Drammen. Drammen

 is a major port and river city in 

Buskerud county, Norway, located

 about 40 kilometers southwest of

 Oslo.   Around 103,000 people, 

the seventh most populous

 municipality in Norway.

We go with his brother and

 brother's girlfriend.  Checking the

 weather it appears that it is going

 to be very cold in Drammen today. 

 It's really time to go home.  

We talked to my parents today

 and they told us how they missed 

us, and Arvid replied that he misses

 them as well.  Said he was ready

 to go home when my dad told 

him to get home soon.

Everyday is a new beginning.

  Take a deep breath, smile,

 and begin again...

~Nadiya~

Friday August 21st~

This place, this cemetery provides 

both comfort and sorrow...

 Going to the cemetery is a

 must when we are in Norway.

  Arvid has been there a few times

 before I arrived and the other 

day we were there together.

 Before we go back home to

 Florida I know we will be going

 back.  It is always a pleasant walk

 from the apartment.  Once there it is

 peaceful.  Like most cemeteries

 it is very well maintained.

 I don't know what is going

 through Arvid's thoughts at that

 moment but I see it in his eyes and 

in his facial expressions.  At that 

time I am just happy to be there

 for him.  To hold him.  To hug 

him and to make sure he knows

 how much I love him. 

 After the cemetery we usually 

walk through the park.  Beautiful

 park.  Kids are everywhere playing 

and having fun.  Norway is safe for 

raising children.  I know Horten is.  

We always meet one of his friends 

no matter where we go.  Horten is

 not that big.  On our walk we met Siv,

 his brother's girlfriend and Dixie their

 dog.  Dixie was having his maybe fourth 

outing for the day.  Like all our pets,

 Dixie is spoilt, but so so cute.

We went to the marina to get a 

soft ice-cream but the ice-cream 

shop was closed.  Bummer.  We then

 went to the bakery in the mall and

 enjoyed a Napoleon cake, Arvid did

 and I just had a frozen beverage. 

 Norway is expensive, but when 

Arvid saw the bill he almost passed 

out. All I know is that we both enjoyed

 what we had.  Made it worth it.

We saw our eldest granddaughter 

play soccer yesterday.  She is good.

Morning is here.  I go to sleep

 thinking of my Sniff.  I wake up 

doing the same.  Yes, I miss him

 very much.  It's time to go home.

When I look around this 

place, I see immense loss, 

but I also see the abundance

 of love that still remains...

~Nadiya~

August 20th~

I woke up today-another 

chance to begin again, to breathe, to 

exist.  Not everyone gets that gift. 

So, today I choose gratitude...

Yesterday's post that 

I forgot to publish.

 Yesterday we had dinner with

 Victoria and Michael. As always 

it was a good time. We met in a

 place called  Tønsberg  Norway’s

 oldest city is located one hour’s

 train ride south of Oslo, along

 the sunny side of the Oslofjord.

Everyone recommended the

 burger. That’s what we had.

 It was very good.  As always we

 spent a lot of time chatting and

 enjoying each others company.

We got back to Horten around

 8:30 in the evening, and had a few 

hours to relax and watch some TV.

 Of course then all I can think of

 is Sniff and wanting to go home.

A new day begins my so called

 "depression" feels lighter.  Always 

does in the mornings, but it does

 not really lessen the fact that

 we would like to go home. 

 Good morning all if all goes

 right we get to see our eldest

 granddaughter play soccer later

 this evening.  Looking forward 

very much to that and to talking

 to her. What a treat for us.

 Morning is here and though 

it's starting off cold, it does look

 like a beautiful day ahead.

Finish each day and be done 

with it. You have done what you 

could... Tomorrow is a new day;

 begin it well and serenely...

~Nadiya

Wednesday August 19th~

The idle man does not

 know what it is to enjoy rest, 

for he has not earned it...

 Yesterday we had a full day.

  It started with Arvid having to go

 to a meeting.  Like I said no matter

 where we go, Arvid finds meetings 

to attend to.  Keeps him busy, keeps 

him happy and at the same time 

he is procuring new business.  He

 is not one to idle.  In the meantime 

I checked out some of the area.

The fun part of our day was 

going to Michael and Victoria's.

 We always have the best time

 there. We have delicious food, 

good conversations and lots

 of catching up to do. 

They have a beautiful property.

  One of the most beautiful pools with

 the bluest of waters, an amazing 

heart shaped pond with Koi fish.

Arvid and I walked around the

 property again.  Always impressive,

 but what got my attention was

 the pear tree.  Thousands of pears. 

 We tried one and it was  delicious. 

 My regret is I did not bring back

 a few with us to Horten 😞

Theses are some of my favorite

 times in Norway.  When I am 

spending time with family, then the

 day is good.  Then I am not bored.

  I feel alive, I feel good, I'm happy.

Yesterday at Michael and 

Victoria's was one of those happy

 days.  Of course once back in Horten, 

I was missing home and Sniff.  Even 

Arvid said he's ready to go home.

  He told me that when I arrived.

Today is a new day.  With a 

brand new perspective.  Everything 

always seems brighter and more

 positive with the new day.

When you focus on the positive,

 your mind grows stronger, 

your days feel brighter, and

 good things start to grow...

~Nadiya~

Tuesday August 18th~

He who has a why to live 

can bear almost any how...

 No matter where in the world

 we are, Arvid knows how to stay

 busy.  Today we have a busy day,

 but some of it is busy fun.  Today we

 see Michael and Victoria for the first 

time since I got here. Looking 

forward very much to that.

If things can go wrong they do. 

 Murphy's Law. Here in the apartment

 our fridge gave up on us.  Of course 

it happened on a Sunday.  Here in 

Horten just about everything is

 closed on Sunday.  Pray you don't

 need anything on a Sunday or

 in summertime in Norway.

The worst outcome: If 

several things can go wrong,

 the one causing the most

 damage will happen...

~Nadiya~

Monday August 17th~

Life begins at the end

 of your comfort zone...

 My week begins in Norway. 

 Today is one week since I left home

 and my Sniff.  Though I am really

 enjoying seeing the girls and family 

I miss my home and my Sniff. 

 I honestly try every year to not

 get so homesick, but I can't help 

it. Arvid had promised that we

 would go away for a few days.  

I was so looking forward to 

seeing another place in Norway,

 but deep down in me I had a

 feeling we would not go. 

  This time Arvid says it's because

 he has the flu. What can I say?  It's

 not that easy when you have the flu

 especially if you're a man. Man flu 

is a death sentence. Hopefully

 he will feel better soon.

We had a good Sunday.  We 

took Michelle and family out to 

dinner.  We all enjoyed Indian

 food.  Arvid not so much.

I would rather die of

 passion than of boredom.

~Nadiya~

Sunday August 16th~

A change in the weather

 is sufficient to recreate the 

world and ourselves...

Not exactly sure what's going on,

 but I have been extremely hot in

 the apartment.  Norway, or at least

 our unit has no air conditioner. 

Sadly, it is the norm here. 

Every year that I'm in Norway

 I realize how fortunate we are to live

 in the United States of America. It's

home, and there is no place like it.

I'm missing home and my Sniff.

 When in the apartment I spend

 my time sweating, well mostly.

  Eventually it gets more a bit more

comfortable, but then back to

 being hot. Life is not easy😂 

 Once you step outside, if you're

 in the shade it's cold.  In the sun,

 its the perfect temperature.  Most 

afternoons it has begun to look

  like fall is already here.

Yesterday we made the most

 of the weather and had an outdoor

 outing.  We had a window of just 

a few hours before it started to

 cool down.  It was a very good 

outing.  Most of the places 

we go to is within walking

 distance of the apartment.

Once I am alone with my

 thoughts, I miss home, and I miss

 my Sniff more than anything. 

 He is my Happy place.

Just for the record, the weather

 today is calm and sunny, but

 the air is full of bullshit...

~Nadiya~

Saturday August 15th~

Woman flu, a bit like man flu except you 

have to do every damm thing yourself...

 Arvid continues to get worse.

  Sadly all the plans we had have to 

be changed.  Of course it's not his 

fault, but I am bummed.  I just hope

 I do not get the flu as well.  Poor man

 feels horrible all the time.  Chills, fever,

 aches and pains.  Yes the flu is here.

Yesterday we took it easy for 

the most part of the day. I have been

 really tired in the early afternoons. 

 Jetlag caught up with me.

Arvid's brother invited us for a 

BBQ. Just family, kids, grandkids

 and their spouses/better halves.

We had a very good time.  

The BBQ was from 5-7pm which

 worked out good for us since Arvid

 did not wish to stay any longer 

in the cold.  It's starting to be

 cold in Norway.  Summer is 

coming to an abrupt ending.

Men get the flu, children get a

 cold, and women just get on with it...

~Nadiya~

Friday August 14th~

Our granddaughters leave a little sprinkle

 in our hearts every time we see them...

 Yesterday we had a full day with 
Vanessa and Amelia.  They spent 
Wednesday night with us, and on 
Thursday we took them out for a
 little shopping  and then we all

 had lunch together. It was

 a really good time. 

We had so much fun. Vanessa

 spoke with me the entire night, 

IN ENGLISH, then suddenly she

 was speaking Spanish.  Said she

 was learning on her own with

 Duolingo.  She is amazing.

  You know I will be having

 them all over my blog for the 

time we are here in Norway.

 Sadly,  Arvid is not feeling 

so good.  He's about to get the 

flu. Men with the flu = hardship

 for me😂  Every time he comes

 to Norway he gets it bad.  So far,

 it's in the early stage only.

  Hopefully it will get better

 rather than worse.

Yesterday and the night 

before spent with the girls

 are so far two of the best days

 I have had with them.  Both

 Vanessa, Amelia and I spent 

several hours of sheer joy. 

 I love them so much.

That being said, I am already

 missing my Sniff so very much,

 but grateful that I can finally

 communicate with the girls.

Grandchildren are a precious

 bridge across generations, offering 

a unique kind of joy that fills our hearts.

 Time spent with them creates lasting 

memories and brings a special

 warmth to family life...

~Nadiya~