This is a view of Barbro’s place near the city of Grästorp, about an hour northeast of Göteborg. I spent just shy of 24hrs there earlier this week and enjoyed both Barbro’s company and her generous hospitality. We spoke of many things, high and low, wide and narrow, deep and shallow. There was plenty of laughter and a fair share of seriousness during our talks. Sitting in the sprawling garden on the very farm where she, her siblings as well as her parents, and their family grew up, certainly added a historic dimension to our multi-topical conversations.

As much as I like to think of myself as an “Angeleno” gone astray, there is no denying that through my trips this summer, I have become heavily influenced by my Swedish heritage. Right now I feel much more drawn to the quiet, spacious life of rural Sweden than I do to the hustle and bustle of L.A. or, any other urban destination for that matter. However, I know myself well enough to know that I need both environments to feel whole…