I’ve been home from Sweden and Scotland for about a month and a half.  The experiences there really influenced my outlook on life and how I live my life in a positive way. If you’re new to the blog and would like to read more, select the “personal” link under the “categories” menu.  Everyone expected me to come home with loads of images of trees and lakes and buildings and castles, but I just couldn’t do it.  I couldn’t get into it.  It’s not for me.  People are for me.  People are what get me going.  Not to sound like Forest Gump, but where they’ve been, where they’re going.  I dig that stuff.  I hope I’m always in a position to love and nurture people.

Over the course of my trip, I made a point to photograph those who crossed my path.  Some I spent days with, some I spent hours with, and some just a few minutes.  Regardless of the time shared, they were chosen to be photographed because they impacted me.  They intrigued me.  They taught me.

This is Yuba.
Paths crossed on first flight from Chicago to Switzerland.
Highlight: Moved to the USA from Russia, twenty years ago, to escape the pressure from the government.  Now fears the reasons she moved are happening to her under the current US administration.

This is Christine.
Paths crossed on my second flight from Switzerland to Sweden.
Highlight: Her stories of her own independent travel through Thailand.  Oh, and she shared her marzipan.

This is Michael from Sweden.
Paths cross on a street corner, not far from the Vasa Viking Museum.
Highlight: After learning that one could only buy a bus ticket via mobile device (of which I did not have), Michael drew on my map sending
me in the right direction home, but not after telling me about his adventures in America.  He was flabbergasted I came all the way to
Sweden on holiday. In March.

This is Jordana.
Paths crossed when I listened to my gut telling me to turn into her coffee shop,
even though I had just consumed my coffee fix for the morning.
Highlight: Hearing about move from America to Sweden to do missions and learning of the immensely secular, self sufficient culture in
Sweden.  Oh yeah, and going shopping at Bik Bok and buying a ridiculous Norwegian sweater.  More to come on that.

This is Kim, Gabriel, and Vivian.
Paths crossed at the Nordic Hostel in Sweden.
Highlight: playing blackjack in a Swedish casino with Kim and Vivian, both French college students.
Highlight: sharing my first experience in a hostel with Gabriel, the man who ran the hostel, and the laughs and insides jokes we now share.

This is Andy, Cameron, Phillip, and Stuart.
Paths crossed at the Nordic Hostel.
Highlight: Where do I begin?  These lads, all residents of Scotland, were in Sweden for a weekend holiday, and were on my flight from
Sweden to Scotland. So many laughs, adventures, and memories were shared.

This is Linda.
Paths crossed at the ferry terminal in Oban, Scotland, on the west coast.
Highlight: Waiting to board a ferry to the Isle of Mull, en route to the Isle of Iona, Linda overheard my difficulties in finding a hotel or B&B to accomdate me after my late night arrival on Mull.  She invited me to stay at her and her husband’s B&B. On the opposite side of the Isle of Mull, which included riding in their small Honda (Hatchback) Civic on the only road on Mull – a one lane road in which cars fly 60 miles an hour at each other and pull over quickly to let the on coming car pass.  In the pitch dark night.  On a secluded, desolate island.  I had never felt so far from home as I did in the back seat of these strangers’ car, holding their recently purchased-in-Oban groceries.

This is Linda’s husband Tim.
Paths crossed at the Oban Ferry Terminal.
Highlight: putting my life in his hands as we drove across Mull the evening before.

Love this photo of Linda seeing me off as Tim drove me to a very small ferry that would take me to the Isle of Iona.

This is Arnie. The dog.
Paths crossed on the small ferry to Iona.
Highlight: Learning that he was rescued from a shelter and previously named André and that his owner felt ridiculous calling out for his
dog, “André! André!” and thus changed his name to something more masculine: Arnie.

This is a random cat.
Paths crossed on my first day exploring Iona.
Highlight: petting it. And enjoying its company has it following me down the streets.

This is Joyce and Lindsay.
Paths crossed: at their DB&B (dinner, bed, and breakfast) on the shores of Iona.
Highlight: their sweet hospitality, amazing Scottish food, and cozy little beach side bedroom and patio where I spent many hours of stillness.

This is Bob.

Paths crossed on my way home from Iona while stranded for six hours at a teeny, tiny little shop, waiting for a bus to take me across the Isle of Mull.
Highlight: his boots.  I mean, come on.  The ideal Scottish fisherman, my friends.  He was down at this tiny little shop buying a cup of instant coffee and a candy bar.  He was carrying on with another local, old timer about how, “This country is going to hell in a hand basket!  What a waste of money it was to build that Scottish parliament building.” After I took his picture and he somehow learned I was a Christian, he hugged me twice and kissed me on the cheek twice.

This is Joe, Claire, and Deb.
Paths crossed in that small waiting area, stranded for six hours, waiting for a bus.
Highlights: sharing the day with them, laughing till we were silly, and learning of their time spent serving with the Iona Community.  None of them knew each other, but became close friends after their week retreat – all hoping to find purpose and renewal.  Joe, a widower.  Claire a single mom. Deb a never married woman, broken after the end of a fourteen year relationship with a man.

What a wonderful time recounting these memories.  These people and all that was passed between us are by far my fondest memories of my adventure.  They made it the crazy and unpredictable  journey it was.  It was really neat asking to photograph people.  They felt so honored.  And after each click of the camera, every single one of these people embraced me with an enormous hug.  What a difference a little smile and click of a camera can make. :-)

Here’s to many more trips of solo travel and times of stillness and reflection!  A few images of yours truly, yet to be shared from this trip, coming soon.