禅 A Moment: Me, An Old Swedish Couple and Our Short Advent Conversation

It has gone two more advent sundays since my last post about our Advent in Sweden, which means we have lighted two more candles for two sundays after that.

In Sweden this period serves almost like pre-celebrations for christmas. One of the activities people in Sweden does is baking, which is my favorite of course, and so I did. This time with Lilitha and Le Ly. We happily baked a lot.

First I´ll show you this typical swedish christmas toffee called knäck in swedish. Try doing them. Very yummy and sweet, like the sweet old couple who gave me a very pleasant conversation on my way to shop the ingridients for the baking:

Old Man: Hello.

Celina: Hello! Very nice dog you got there in your car.

Old man: Yes, I got three same race of dogs in 35 years, ... and where did your clothes came from that it fits you so well ..... ( and he wave his two hands as if imitating the shape of me, while he´s wife gave him a push with her elbow and I almost giggled).

( I happened to have a thick clothing I bought from Taiwan a few years ago )

Celina: Taiwan. ( he frown) Formosa ( he brightened up - recognizing )

Old man: It´s an island right?

Celina: Yes.

Old man: An independent country?

Celina: yes.

Old man: With president?

Celina: President and everything, name it.

Old man: That´s wonderful, ... now be careful when walking, it´s really very ice slippery on the ground.

Celina: Thanks, and you too. Have a nice day!

I tell you, old swedish people are always very polite, friendly and so sweeet to converse with, and my suspicion is because they have eaten much more of these swedish sweet knäck in so many more years than anyone else of us in Sweden.

They just have that old wonderful swedish way of placing a short but very pleasant conversation it lasts a life time to remember. An old cheerful swedish custom that I hope is learned and passes on by the next generations. .... because what they teaches is yes, it usually takes just a little to brighten each other´s day: ...it´s just that tiny little skill of enjoying and appreciating the thing and people in front of you at the moment.

In my homeland, it´s called zen, and I am really happy to be able to enjoy it too in Sweden.

Continue having a cheerful christmas season everyone!

.... for Chadao ...

黄琼丝

Photo: En Kopp Zen Teahouse