When It Does, It Comes Back With A Vengeance

Still spring, the picture taken last spring--around March, tells you that sun is just as rebellious when it returns, as it is shy when it remains hidden.  Look at the following photographs, all taken between Early December and February --almost during what would be considered day-time. 

An apartment complex near the University.  These lights are in the corridor, they just looked so beautiful that 'afternoon.!!

A bridge between buildings in the university so that we do not have to leave the buildings during the extreme cold. 

Those beautiful Christmas trees. I love these in Sweden.  They are usually very simply and shine brighter than the multicoloured ones that I was used to in the US. Winter has a coziness to it in Sweden. It envelops you and at some point, you truly start to enjoy it!!  Most people complain about the darkness. As I did for the first 2-3 years, even though I had lived in Pennsylvania for such a long time.  It was the darkness that made Sweden stand apart!!

And, for the last two years, I have felt that it is return of light that bothers me much.  There is a sense of time passing, and the body does not feel rested because you are supposed to be up and upright, at 4 am.  I mean you can sleep, but it is bright at 4 am and earlier and earlier till late June.  The fact that you get much work done during this time is very obvious.  

Right around where I live. Because there are hardly any tall buildings on this side of town, see how the sky smiles with rainbow!!

Watch how the sun plays....see that little patch of sunlight under the trees?  That is where somehow the sun has made its presence felt, under the strong shade of trees. This is very close to where I live, and I have so many pictures of these trees, in different seasons.  It seems like someone changes the scenery every few months!!

And above two are pictures from our building.  This is around February-March, early morning!! Imagine how strong it is!!

Karlstad, supposedly, gets the maximum sunlight in country.  Very grateful for that.

But to tell the truth, and nothing but the truth, light can bring about depression just as much as the darkness. Light here in sweden is not ordinary, it is just as bright in spring, as it is sparse and dim in winter.  So this sudden spark of bright light and long, longer, and even longer days is hard.  

It dawns on you (in more ways than one) that we cannot waste time anymore, another year gone and before we know light will take leave again, between now and next six months, so much needs to be done. Garden fixed, cars fixed, homes fixed, for no one wants to work in winter.  And much cannot be done in winter.  Oh yes, getting back the routine of walking and exercising --sooo much.  But more importantly, the social needs to be taken care of, we cannot slack off anymore and we must meet our friends.....and have to those late night dinners outdoors.  

For those like me, who travel to India most of this time, it is really hard, for our time in the country is mostly dark and cold. 

But one truly falls in love with a country when one lives in a place for a while, even with darkness and extreme light and all its flaws.

You know Why? Because Love is about completion!! We love people in packages, we love countries in their entirety.

Love, is complete!!