Old friends; new perspecties

About 15 years ago—I can’t recall the exact date, though I could easily look it up—I met an American woman living here in Stockholm named Sandra Carpenter. If you search her name on this blog, you’ll find plenty of references to her. We both had blogs back then, and somehow we started following each other; there was just a lovely, instant connection.

When I eventually met her in person in Sweden, I remember writing a post titled “She Exists.” Over the years, every time I visited, catching up with Sandra was a given. She was married to an Australian man, Robert, which added another layer of connection—it was nice to have someone to talk to about Australian things who truly appreciated the context.

Sadly, Sandra passed away quite suddenly a few years ago. It was devastating. Through her, however, I had met other locals like Roger and Nicole. While we’ve kept in touch via Facebook, I’d completely lost contact with Robert; he isn’t much for social media or digital updates.

A Long-Overdue Catch-up

When I announced my return to Sweden on Facebook a few months ago, Roger and Nicole reached out to suggest a drink. What was meant to be a quick catch-up turned into three hours at Hotel Rival. It has a wonderful vibe and was the perfect backdrop to bridge the nine-year gap since my last visit.

So much has changed. For me, there is the reality of my illness and amputation. For them, they’ve downsized from a large house on the outskirts of Stockholm to an apartment in the city centre and are now navigating their mid-to-late 50s, spending several months a year at their new place in another European country.

The most wonderful surprise, however, was learning that Robert is still here in Stockholm, living in the apartment he and Sandra shared. Like the rest of us, he’s contemplating the future—considering whether to use his Australian citizenship or his US Green Card to live elsewhere.

I went to bed last night feeling incredibly emotionally full. I even woke up in the middle of the night just thinking about how beautiful it was to reconnect. It felt as though the conversation we started years ago had simply continued without a hitch.

Finding a New Rhythm

This trip, I’ve fallen into a new routine: breakfast, then catching a bus to somewhere random. I never used to take the bus here—I usually stuck to the Tunnelbana (metro)—but my perspective has shifted.

As an amputee, I have to be more intentional in my travel. I can’t just walk for kilometres in one direction anymore. The buses are accessible, frequent, and actually offer a better way to sightsee. Yesterday, I just hopped on and rode until the driver told me it was the last stop, then turned around and headed back. It’s a great way to explore without overexerting myself.

A Change of Scenery

I’ve also moved hotels. I started at the Radisson Blu Waterfront for convenience, but I’ve now moved to Södermalm—the trendy “South Island”—to a place called Hellstens Glashus. It’s closer to the pubs I like and the Mariatorget station.

It’s a “couples’ hotel” with a very romantic, boutique feel. The design is stunning, though the ground floor is literally carved from the bedrock of Södermalm. While it’s beautiful to look at, it’s a bit of a challenge to navigate on a prosthetic leg! I have to take it very slowly across those uneven surfaces, but the room itself is fantastic.

I woke up this morning to see snow falling outside my window. It’s time to head out, find a bus, and see where the city takes me today.