Reflections

It has been almost 4 months since we made our big transatlantic move.  In that time, I have made it through the worst winter in 50 years, a transition from a 1900 square foot house (with a yard) to a 900 square foot apartment, and various other ups and downs.  Yet one thing eludes me about common interactions I have experienced.  Let me explain.....

Example 1.....today baby girl and I went to Maxi (the Wal-Mart of Scandinavia) after we dropped The Belle off at dagis.  Everything was cool....we took in our recycling and got the receipt for the pant.  I got my self-scanner and we started on our way.  I even brought my own bags, which was very European of me.  So, I am going down the first aisle.....1 giant cart with an 11 month-old in the seat.....3 bags in the cart, waiting to be filled up.  I stopped to get soap.....I scanned it, no problem.  I put it in the bag and look up to see a pissed-off lady basically wanting to play chicken in the grocery aisle.  Um, ok.  So I hurriedly throw my soap in the bag and try to get out of her way, but she stays put and glares at me.  Um, hello?  I got so ruffled that I couldn't get out of her way fast enough so she could pick out her Pepsodent.  I wanted to tell her, "If I am in your way, why don't you say excuse me?  Is it not obvious that I don't see you??  And why are you so bitter?"  But I digress......

Example 2......after Fun Times at Maxi, baby girl and I set our sights on home.  At our apartment, there are gates at the paths but you can open them if you need to.  I think 3 large bags of groceries and a sleeping infant qualify for opening the gate and driving up to the apartment door.  Apparently I am wrong.  As I get everybody and everything in the house, an elderly couple walks around from the other direction.  If you have read any previous posts, you know my luck with the elderly....but I remained hopeful that they would just keep walking.  The man did, but his wife stopped dead in her tracks, turned around, and stared at me until I was in the building.  Then, as I went in to put the groceries in the kitchen I looked out the window and the man had stopped, turned around, and was watching me through the window.  WTF?  I gave him the stinkeye and he turned around and walked off, but really?  What was that about?  I know that I do not look typically Scandinavian.....I am a glamazon, a redhead that is almost 6 feet tall, but please do not stare at me like I dropped down from the moon.  That rattled me so much that I had to call The International and ask him if I looked funny.  Now he thinks I'm crazy, but I have had enough weird things happen to me since we've been here that I thought it was a valid question.  Whew.

So, enough of my reflections for today.  Hopefully next time they will be a little more positive.  Hopefully.