You know, since the advent/addiction to screens and social media, my concentration span has been for shit. I used to be able to spend HOURS reading. Now I read a chapter or two, then I have to check emails or scroll through Instagram for a bit, or play a round or two of Two Dots. Then I can go back and read a few more chapters. And this is even with books I’m very engaged in and enjoying. It’s way worse with books that are just so-so (or some of the book group books that I don’t enjoy at all…though to be fair, I DO allow myself to stop reading books I really don’t like, because as I’ve said before, life is too short to read bad books).
What a bad habit to have: a short attention span. I suspect I am FAR from alone, judging by the amount of people I see who are always on their phones. At least at work, I’m also never on my phone. I don’t have time, haha! It’s not something I make time for at work at all. The ony time I’m ever on my phone is the once in a while event that I’m alone in the kitchen at lunch before others arrive. Otherwise, I only look at it for those 8 hours when someone texts me or I have to open Authenticator or BankID (to pay for a sushi pickup order, heh).
I DO try to fight it, honestly. I leave my iPad in the other room, and I almost never have my phone by me at home. I’d rather be reading. But addiction in all forms is really hard to fight.
Yesterday, I went to Copenhagen in the early afternoon and Karin and I went to see Moana 2 at Palads, which is housed in a super-cool building in the center of town. It’s a building I’ve seen from afar for years, but didn’t know what it was. It’s a movie theater! The movie was fine, cute and well-done, though not as good as the original one (as too often happens). We went to Sticks & Sushi by Tivoli afterwards for dinner, which was delicious. It was nice to have a night out with just my daughter. I’ll have to plan something similar with Martin soon. 🙂 The only issue was how slow I had to walk to be sure of my footing and not wrenching either of my knees, especially in Copenhagen which is pretty much entirely paved with cobblestones. UGH. Thankfully, Karin was fine with my holding her arm and being SO SLOW on stairs in the few places where there were no elevator/escalator options.
I’ll be getting a date for a knee operation after my US trip. I’m not thrilled about it, and really don’t want to be put under, but with both knees in trouble, I need to do something that will hopefully help, at least the left knee, at least a little bit. I still have to ask the doctor to investigate my RIGHT knee as well, and see if I can get a referral for an MRI for it as well.
Yesterday morning, my best friend from college (and my roommate for several of the years both there and after, in Chicago), Julie, wrote to tell me that she and her husband and their two kids are planning to come visit us in Sweden…FINALLY! YAY! She’s the last of my best friends to come. I’ve seen her several times when we’ve been home in Michigan over the years, but I really thought they’d never get over here. They both retired early several years ago, and their kids are grown and out on their own, so I’m thrilled that they will all come together. They’re planning to come in mid-May but I don’t have the dates yet.
Becky, my oldest friend (from middle school) has been to Europe several times since I moved abroad (though we’ve also met up in other places besides Sweden, and I’ve been out to Oregon where she lives when I was in the States a couple of times). My best friend Deb from high school was here for one evening some years ago, and my friend Val (from Chicago) was here quite soon after we moved here (though she hasn’t made it back again, I’ve seen her in Chicago when we’ve gone back). And my friends Kathey and Russell, who I met here in Sweden, have both been back here and met up with us in the States on several occasions.
I love having old friends visit, especially when we haven’t seen each other in a long time, because even if we “see” each other online, it’s not the same. No one posts continual updates about their life (though I have to say, I do a pretty good job of it nowadays with my daily good things lists) and we rarely talk at any meaningful length. Catching up, and having that moment of reconnection, where you suddenly feel like you’ve never left each other is one of the best feelings in the world. When you’re suddenly 14 or 18 or 22 again together.
It’s also fun because you get to show off your family, your home and your place, and in our case, the lovely country we live in. I can’t wait! I only hope I’ll be able to walk a little better by then.
*Herb Caen
Mood: excited
Music: Simon Webbe—A Little High