Evening's Beauty

It is that time of the year again.  First published on October 28, 2017.  Here it is...as we see light  going down fast....

Yesterday visited a friend from Romania, who has lived in Sweden for 23 years...and I was complaining about it getting dark and she said...."Yes, but this is normal in the rest world you know...so we are now in normal times".  yes, but it is something to get used to---from 22 hr day light to 10 to 8 to 6 and then to 4 or so...aaaahhhhh...

And yet this country has its own beauty....strangely enough the darkness grows on you and the return of light can be just as depressing in March...for the next few months...we live for those months....

This is where my feet stopped and I knew I had to document it!

Some houses even have coloured lights.  Both the residents and the passerby gets to enjoy this. Evening walks are beautiful because of houses like these. And there are plenty in the area. 

The light in centre of the picture is not the moon, but actually a street lamp.  How beautiful it looks!!

Beyond the dried bushes, a light, indicating life!

It these houses look right out of a picture book, you can imagine how one feels to actually be there. To be in Sweden is to perpetually be a part of a post card!!

Ever since I came to this beautiful country, I had been meaning to document its magnificence.  And I did a bit for the first year. But then I got lost in life and the confusion that has been a part of my existence ever since I can remember. 

I remember writing in my journal the first year, 'I ran home during the day, because I had to pick up something I needed, but I ran past the icicles, and huge trees wrapped in silver snow. I did not pay attention to the mild sun waving at me.  Seriously, that is a crime. I mean what is so important that I overlooked this beauty? (sort of paraphrased).

I have been meaning to document the way spring comes to this country and the massive changes it goes through between fall and spring.  But I have so much video and pictures, and little time to organise that any work just sits there, while I get caught in the knot of my own life.

But there are times when  I just stare at the breath taking beauty that surrounds me. While every country has beauty, each is beautiful its own way.  Despite the cold and the dark, I love the changing seasons. I love the four seasons. Even though they were not as stark in India, I enjoyed that.  The south of India has only two seasons, much like Fiji.

It is the starkness of seasons in countries like Sweden that make time for reflection, and bountiful energy.  The contrast between all four seasons demands we have jackets and shoes for all seasons.

But how we deal with it both indoors and outdoors that affects us. Flimsy summer shirts with light jackets in summer, tweed jackets in autumn, thermal undergarments in the winter and that light freedom of not having to wear gloves and hats everyday--in spring.  

Then  there are the candles, that make an appearance in late summer and are used well into late spring.

As I had said before, it is not just the quantity but the quality of light that is different in each season.  It is as if nature has its own dimmer switch.  

Now, we are moving towards winter.  We had our cleaning day today, and will write about it separately.

But come October, the streets are emptier, people are busy and the evening lights inside and outside the house start to provide a glow.  It is beautiful to go for long walks these days. 

I had stopped going for walks, since for the last year have focused on formal exercise, even got a trainer.  Simply because doctors have asked me to --for the last 4 years.


So, for the last two days I have been going for an hour long walk. In the evenings.

The sun that barely makes an appearance these days has gotten cold by that time.  The moon is not shinning yet.  The air is crisp, and it would not hurt if I had gloves and hat on. But I am resisting that, knowing fully well that in a few days they will be a necessity.   But as I walk along the row of houses across the street from me, the dim lights light my path. There are street lights, but it is the lights from the houses that frames the walk.  It is as if someone has created this mise-en-scene for us to walk.  The evenings get darker, and it is the lights from the houses that make it bright. This just will not make sense anywhere, where it does not get as cold and as dark as here.

People will say, yeah Pennsylvania is cold and dark, but the in Sweden is crisper and deeper.   It takes a lot of effort and conviction to stay afloat emotionally.

Especially for people like me, who have dealt with direction and stability.  So, yesterday it was an emotional walk.  Until, I told myself, to use this to reflect on the beauty of the country and how it may affect who we are, how the geography affects the culture.

Well, to make an abrupt ending here---well, Sweden uses over 80,000 tonnes (have to check again) of candles every year......Candles are lit in the morning and go throughout the day and late evening.

Something, I tried so hard to do in Fiji, but most of my candles, would not even retain their shape.

Besides, with fans and coolers around little flames, can neither win, nor are needed!!

PS: Finally starting a channel for the readers.  Here is the film to view.  Pardon the fact that it is all done in haste.  Two days put together...but some moving images for you all!!

PS: Made a slight change to the video. All of those who know me, if you do leave a comment either here or on the channel, please do not leave my name. Thanks, as always for reading.