letters from the end consumer: dad

Showing posts with label dad. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Tuesday, January 5, 2016

Dad

I lost my dad this past Sunday. Miss him so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so

so so so so so so so so so

so so so so so so so so so.

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Big changes ahead

My dad is ill. I will be moving to Stockholm with Niki this January.

Big kids will stay in NYC with Anders. Don't want to uproot them now that they're loving their life in this city.

We'll travel back and forth to see each other until we figure out our way. It will be tough on all of us. But I see no other solution than the one we're planning.

Love my dad so much. We go way back. He's the best.

I keep waking up repeatedly in the middle of the night, unable to go back to sleep.

My whole system is on high alert. Anders says it's the same for him.

Friday, December 11, 2015

May I introduce you to the men in my life

My brother Björn

My dad Göran (with Niki)

My husband Anders. This pic is old, but I love it.

This is also old but I love it too. You can never have too many animal books in your life.

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Tested positive for lyme disease

When taking the prescribed medication, must try to protect skin from sun.

Lacking sunhat, used hair.

Then had lunch with dad.

We were photo-dueling.

Monday, September 21, 2015

Two anniversaries

This year marks the 150th anniversary of Alice in Wonderland.

Above the "real" Alice as a child.

Ingrid Bergman was born 100 years ago. This pic was taken by her photographer dad, Justus Bergman.

Friday, July 10, 2015

more Stockholm pics

Anna.

Niki and Vanja

Vanja & Joel

Niki & Anders

Dad!

Friday, June 26, 2015

June 26th

It's my dad's birthday so I've always loved June 26, but now we all have one more great reason to love it!

MARRIAGE EQUALITY IN THE US

Sunday, June 7, 2015

Growing up, I started having depressive periods from about age 12. Real gloom, existential angst, terrors that could only be lightened by intense exercise, a body in motion, loving people holding me tight, telling me everything would be all right and meaning it.

In college, thousands of miles away from my family, I kept having bouts of severe sadness. In those days before e-mail, I'd fax letters to my family.

I remember one fax I got in return from my dad.

He said (roughly translated):

"It seems you have an artist's soul, so your mood swings swing a little wider. "

Such a calming effect, those words. Nothing to fear. Not worse or better than anyone else. Just wider swings. Not even sure if I have an artist's soul or just an artist's mood swings. I've learned to live with it. I keep walking through the sadness until it lifts and becomes manageable.

It's one of the reasons I can't stand tight skirts or high heels. I need to be able to walk it off, whenever it comes over me.

this spring

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

with dad

I LOVE MY DAD.

Monday, February 3, 2014

People I love: Dad

You've probably noticed but yes, kept the camera. Love it.

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Are you there God? It's me, Emi

It's not that I'm losing my religion, I've never really had one beyond family, friends and a comforting sense of belonging - all of which have helped a great deal.

But there are times, every so often, when I wished I had a religion beyond that. Some kind of guidance. A framework. Centuries-old tradition of knowing who to turn to and of that person/higher power really being able to help or console.

Like any young person I searched all over for something to believe in, tried the various major religions on for size. Didn't fit.

With many of them, the organized religions' treatment of women within and beyond their ranks killed it for me. If their God/Gods didn't even treat the sexes equally, then it wasn't my God. Same with so many other practices, like the constant urging to appease the God with prayers. It might well work that way with God, what do I know, but it's not the kind of God I'm looking for.

In times of crisis I've had to come up with other sources of consolation.
And it's often religious/Christian art that brings on the peace. Not so much Jesus on the cross. More Mary with baby Jesus - the composition called Glykophilousa - Greek for "sweet kisses" with baby Jesus so tender with his momma, the two of them oozing love way beyond any specified religion. That's what God must be like, not the pictured people per se but the overwhelming feeling of love and care, compassion and forgiveness. So yes, perhaps I already know God?

Could also be all the amassed energy by people who've previously turned to the very same images for consolation. Or perhaps the phenomenal artistry of the painters appointed to carry out the art. Doesn't matter so much.
The Met is my church.

I went there today, was comforted by many a loving baby Jesus-Marys, a currant scone and some ancient Egyptians. El Greco wakes me up too, shakes me up a little, in a good way. I'll take whatever works.

Ps.
Top painting is in Europe though - in Antwerp. I go to the Met to see a very similar version from Van Eyck's workshop. Strangely, the supreme contemporary copy is not as overwhelming as Van Eyck's original. Don't understand it, am not usually so picky. Perhaps some higher power is involved after all.

Ps 2. I grew up in museums. When I'm this far from my first family, the familiar world of art and the company of trees are the two main means to beat the longing for the people I love on a different continent.

Ps 3. People! If you're in London, don't miss this - in February. So tempted to go. Dad, care to join? This is for us!

Monday, January 6, 2014

If I was a painter

This is the kind of composition and subject matter I would paint. With a bit more sky and my dad's shadow and feet clearly visible. Other than that though, this is what I'd paint.