Honey, I'm home!

Eleven hours of travelling from Scandinavia. Several pages in my book, one movie, lots of sleep, thinking about those I left behind, mixed feelings, sitting next to Mr. Stoneface who didn't say a word – not even hi. When I landed at Dulles, I immediately started smiling. Hi, America!

It was a warm evening, compared to where I came from, and I felt like I came home. Again. To my current home. A random man gave me advice on how to carry my suitcase in the escalator to avoid getting hurt. Yep, there are certain things I simply love about this country.

Back in the US and it feels great. Even better knowing I have a week off for being a tourist and doing all those things I haven't done here yet. Happydays!

The tears of goodbye are not evil ones.

I left the Winter Wonderland with tears in my eyes. I didn't think I would. But I did. There's something about spending lots of time under the same roof with family that makes it so hard to say goodbye. Even though, with family, it's never goodbye. It's always see you later.

Hopefully, I'll see most of them later in Washington DC, where I'll land again tomorrow afternoon. I've had two wonderful weeks of simply – being. Kind of lazy. Now I'm all prepared and excited to go back to my current home and start working.

Thank you, lovely family, for giving me the Christmas break I needed. Thank you weather, for giving me the snow I wanted. And thank you sweet nephews for giving me so many hugs and kisses and smiles.

I don't think I'll ever be able to handle the tears of goodbye. But they are not really evil tears. They are simply tears of love. And, in the end, how can that be bad?

Respect the rules and regulations.

I believe rules are important. Wherever we go, whatever we do, whoever we're with, we form rules. Often without even thinking about it, we decide what kind of behavior we accept, what type of manner that is frowned upon or what actions that are forbidden.

I, personally, have my own set of rules for different types of situations. I think it's important to know what you stand for, what you believe in and what your moral values are. Other people might see things differently and here comes what may cause a conflict.

For rules and regulations to be effective, we often need to meet halfway. It's important to understand that sometimes, when we step onto somebody else's territory, we simply have to play by somebody else's rules. As long as it's all communicated, we can decide if we want to stay or move on to something we find more appropriate in accordance with our own values. The keyword is always respect.

Also, know that breaking the rules and regulations has consequences...

2011/2012 – hi, goodbye and welcome.

Welcome 2012.

We've said goodbye to one year and hi to another. Many of us want to sum up what we've left behind and make a plan for what's next on the agenda. When asked to grade the year 2011, in the end, I gave it a 6 on a scale from 1 to 10.

I've said my heart's worst goodbye, which would make the year a 1 or 2. But then again, with one goodbye comes another hello. We go through life, leaving certain things behind, but will for sure be welcomed by something else if we only let it happen. During 2011, I said hi to so many new and interesting places, people and passions, which in the end, all added together, made the year a little bit better than average.

Now, I welcome 2012 with light and great expectations. My only New Year's resolution is to collect phone numbers and business cards and keep listening to my heart, which will always know that life is about farewells and reunions – somehow, somewhere, someday.

Relax, woman!

Christmas break, but never really any time off from self. Not when running into the unknown, searching for adventures, planning the future, forgetting the past, stressing about the unavoidable, trying to fit in, yet wanting to stand out.

Days on the couch, in the OnePiece, next to the fire place, eating chocolate. Sounds like heaven, right? Yet, I cannot really relax, because my head is even more all over the place than is my heart.

Need to practice. Need to let go. Need to let that thinking head explode. And then just relax.

Christmas Break.

Dear reader,

Your devoted blogger has now landed in her hometown in her homeland. In her home-home.

She is being bossed around by her BFF (the two-year-old nephew), waiting patiently to see the newest member of the family, having spa night in the sauna with her sister, making gingerbread houses here and there, eating VB cheese, making Christmas candy and completing other duties of great significance. As one can see, the schedule is packed, hence blogging will be set aside for a few days.

Your devoted blogger wishes you all love and warmth and a very, merry Christmas!

And the theme of this year's house, well, it was kind of a given:

From my home to home-home.

I left my home approximately 25 hours ago. Since then I have been travelling back and forth in time and now I have landed in the future, compared to where I started.

It's 8:00pm and I had completely neglected how dark it is in Sweden this time of the year – it totally makes sense we go crazy over Lucia and all the candles. Stockholm shows off with a little bit of snow on the ground and the hotell lobby where I am seated provides me with glögg.

I have another 14 hours to go and I really hope Umeå delivers now, snow wise. Otherwise I know it will be nothing but perfect. I am on my way towards the place I should be this time of the year. I have left my lovely 305-home to go home-home.

Home is where your heart is. And you know what, my heart is all over the place, because that is how big it is. But for Christmas, it will always and forever be with my family.

Chicago O'Hare International Airport.

I have spent so much time and shed so many tears at airports around Europe. Even though airports have meant mostly farewells, awkward goodbye kisses and broken hearts, I still love them.

Once passed security check I enter in a world of its own. I'm in a no-mans-land and I wander around with no obligations – other than making it to the gate on time.

Chicago O'Hare, where I'm currently located, will definitely make it into top five airports. Just look at this amazing corridor. And there is always something special about an airport with a train operating between the different terminals. One point for that too. I'm also willing to give an additional bonus point for the cute Christmas decorations.

I'm having a good time. Computer. CNN running on the TV screen. And a USA Today.

Why don't I pack my bags more often?

I have missed this – travelling. The hassle of carrying bags around town. Make sure all important documents are where they should be. Be at the right place at the right time. 

I do a lot of travelling back and forth in my head and in my heart. But it's usually when I travel for real that I start seeing things clearly. 

It's a good thing I have learned how to travel light. I try not to pack more than just those absolutely necessary items. And every time I pack, I wonder why I'm not doing it more often. It keeps me alive and creative.

Me and my bags are on the go and we really like it. Bon voyage to us!

Merry Christmas America!

So it comes, going home to Sweden day for Grandma. Going to Atlanta day for Tattarn. Waiting for family members to come day for Iron Ass.

We are all off to celebrate Christmas a little here and there. I have one incredibly long journey ahead of me, starting in approximately one hour by taking the metro to the shuttle to the airport. Five flights and one night at the airport in Stockholm and I'll be home with my beloved family.

Loooong trip. But it will be so worth it when I get to hug them all. Oh, I'm excited!

Merry Christmas America! God Jul! So long!