Finding Unexpected Hygge

Have you ever felt true peace? How about comfort and happiness – all at the same time? Well I have and last year when I was in….wait a second; I think I need to tell you a story. My best friend and I met in kind of an unconventional way – on an internet message board for a woman we both mutually admire, but that’s actually beside the point. The point is that she is from Denmark and I am a born and bred Texas girl.

Susan and I got to meet face to face for the first time in New York City in early 2008 to enjoy some theater and meet our previously mentioned mutual idol. Last October I decided to make the big flight across the ocean to visit Susan on her soil. While preparing for my trip to Denmark I decided to try to learn a little bit of Danish. Needless to say, Danish is a very hard language to learn – but as hard as it was, I was so excited. As I studied I continued to come across a certain word that intrigued me – hygge. The dictionary said “comfort”, but I just knew there was something more to ‘hygge.’ I asked Susan about this word to see if she could explain it to me. She said something to the effect of, “It’s hard to describe and there is not really a good English word for it.” Anyway, I continued on with my preparations not thinking much more about hygge.

After nearly 24 hours of travel I finally arrived in Copenhagen. The minute I arrived I knew something was different about Denmark – but I just could not put my finger on it. I felt so excited, but relaxed at the same time. Can that happen? For 10 days I had an amazing time seeing the sites, taking hundreds of pictures and spending time with my friend. We even got to hang out with her friends and family and that’s when it hit me – that word, ‘hygge.’ I could feel it! I could feel hygge and it was the most amazing thing in the world! I felt togetherness, love, and comfort. I felt a part of something very important - this family from across the globe was accepting me as one of their own. The whole trip I had been feeling hygge – from so many loving Danes. See, I went to Denmark to visit my best friend and I found hygge. It’s friendship, it’s fellowship, it’s peace. To me hygge is Denmark!

Karen and Susan in Nyhavn Harbor


Family time – teaching pumpkin carving!


Susan Karen Mette – fun with friends

Flashback Friday!

Ok so once again from my sister’s blog – Flash Back Friday!



I thought I would just post some pictures for all to enjoy. And try to slightly embarrass some others.

So first me and my sweet sis – this must have been her like 13th birthday? Bec – Correct me if I am wrong!


Next – Baby Brass!


A particularly rotten day for me:


Me and very young scientist!


my sweet grandmother and princess


Jenn and I have always been friends! And we are 10 years apart!


What’s a flashback Friday without a festive young Susan?


and last but not least – young sonny and cher – inspiration for my blog! The Beat Goes On!!

Yesterday's News

My Sister (who I have to thank for my blog design) does this post thing called Yesterday’s News. So I thought I would copy her and do that also!

So here is yesterday’s news:

It was a very hot day here in Texas, around 104 F or 40 C (for you peeps across the pond). As I was driving to the gym, the street was melted. I decided to drive in the areas where it was not melted and I am sure everyone around me thought I was crazy. But come on – why ruin a good paint job on my Jeep?



After the gym I went to a softball game – my boss’s daughter’s game. Man, can that 13 year old throw! It was hot there too.

I kept Brass (my black lab) with me for most of the day. When we had to go out and talk to a contractor about trees, he just dug himself a hole to lay in. Again – to get out of the heat.



As mentioned earlier I did go to the gym. I had not been in a while because I am doing Fiddler on the Roof at night. I am positive I will be sore – I was hurting by the second weight track in my power class. Ugh!

Did I mention it was hot? Well not this hot or this hot but pretty hot! Maybe I can get the naked cowboy to come down here and join us in the heat!

I got four comments on my new blog! I am famous!

So that’s it – feel free to comment or just enjoy.

Thanks

Hello World!

Hello world it’s me, Karen! This is my first attempt at blogging and I am excited to get going. I am intrigued that the word blogging is not recognized by Microsoft Word. So anyway here it is. I thought I should start by telling you a little bit about myself. I have published this silly little snippet many times before in various forms, so you may have read it already! Enjoy

It was a dark and stormy night, I sat, cigarette in hand, gazing out into the darkness. The only light came from the small lamp sitting on my desk, which flickered with the thunder, and a hazy street light up the road that left a cone of yellow in the inky wet blackness. A crash of lightening and there she stood. Her slim frame was silhouetted by the flash of light and her bright red hair dripped slightly from the rain. Why was she here you ask, with tears streaming down her porcelain white cheeks, well this dame had a problem that I could fix. Just call me Tracy, private eye. ‘Come in,’ I said, and as I ushered her into my office. I could see that she was upset. ‘What could be wrong’ I thought to myself as she silently sat and wiped her gray eyes. ‘I...’ she started, ‘I need help starting a blog.’ ‘What?’ I thought, ‘This fun-loving girl, who loves to travel, take pictures, and spend time with family and friends needs help starting a blog?’ ‘Continue’ I chimed in ‘tell me a little more about yourself.’ ‘Well Tracy,’ she said ‘ I just don’t really know what to write about… I enjoy going to church, but I also like baseball, well all sports, as well as video games.’ Just as the last word came out of her mouth, the lights went out and I was left in the black midnight air with my thoughts. ‘Would it, could it be possible to find this cutie a blog that she was happy with and topics to write about?’ At that moment the lights jolted on, causing my head to snap up, bringing my thoughts back to reality, and she was gone.

Comments are very much appreciated and if you post as anonymous, please leave your name so I know who you are!

Thanks